The tides of blood have come and gone. Peace is once again upon us as we praise the Savior for banishing the darkness that fell from the skies. But salvation is not without its price. Our great kingdom fell to ruins, our people lost, and our great leader disappeared without a trace. I fear of what the morrow brings, as our struggles have merely begun.

- Lost Texts of Atlas

Inner Sanctum, The Undying Realm

Shades of red illuminated the soft features of her face as Lux bit down on her lower lips. Holding her hand out against surface of the barrier that confined her, she panted hard as her eyes were locked in a pained gaze, beads of sweat coalescing into a thin layer that glinted in the light. Dropping her hands to take a few steps backwards, she bent forward as she struggled to breathe. It has to be here…somewhere. Having learned to erect defensive energy barriers since childhood, she knew that there was a universal truth to them. Regardless of its strength or how it was cast, there are two ways of taking them down: outright destroy it with overwhelming power, or find its weakness. Every barrier has its weakness- the point where it was initially cast.

Pinpointing the location from where it was created, however, was proving to be far more difficult than she had imagined. Destroying barriers formed in battle was easy, as they were coarsely designed and contained multiple weaknesses. The very appearance of the transparent wall in front of her, however, made it obvious that far more effort was put into it than anything she had previous encountered. Its surface was smooth, intricately comprised of countless components too small to detect, arranged in a lattice designed for strength. The option of forcing her way through the barrier with Fenrir had crossed her mind, only she found to her horror hours ago that her Aesir Crystal wasn't even responsive. I can barely stand up…this barrier, it feels like it's draining me of everything with every passing second. Staying any longer wasn't an option as she knew that death, or something far worse, was the inevitable outcome. Forcing herself towards the border of her confined space, she let out a soft groan under her breath as her palms returned to the surface of the barrier. Pain coursed through her arms, burning with every moment she spent doing what she knew was her only hope of escaping. I have to try…no matter how difficult it seems, there has to be a weak spot…If only I had been awake to witness it at the time…

Hollow footsteps echoed through the tall vaulted ceilings of the cathedral chamber as Lux shifted her feet along the ground. Forcing herself to endure the pain that burned at her palms mercilessly, she found that the sensation gradually dulled as time passed. Focused on her goal, she discounted this to her body adjusting to her surroundings. It wasn't until she finally withdrew her hands to catch her breath that she quickly realized that she had all but completely lost sensation in the area. Gazing upon the black scars that extended far deeper than the superficial skin, she immediately wished that she hadn't. The longer she stared, the faster she felt her heart race until she found herself bordering on frenzy.

What disturbed her more than the damage to her palms was the way her wounds were extending. Black streaks formed from the edge of escars, running in jagged patterns to course along the length of her veins. It was as though the burns she had sustained were beginning invade proximally, advancing like a rapidly spreading infection. It was not the first time she had seen such a phenomenon; she had witnessed it once before. It's like that time in Piltover…and Icathia. The darkness of this barrier is spreading into my system. The unsettling thought pierced her heart like icy arrows, images of Fiora possessed by darkness attacking her allies relentlessly flashing through her mind. She had tried so hard to forget those memories; one of many since she had left Demacia that she knew would forever haunt her. Seeing the Chaos affliction on herself brought it all back in a manner that was far more tangible than anything she had wanted to experience. Is that how I'll end up? Even if I somehow manage to survive this, will I end up as a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode and destroy everything around me?

Clenching her fingers together into a ball, Lux closed her eyes tightly, subconsciously wishing that she could shut out these haunting thoughts along with them. No, I won't do it again. I've spent too much of my life burying myself in self-pity. No more what-if's…for the moment, focus on what needs to be done. Letting out a deep sigh, her hands shot forward, placing them against the barrier that instantly reacted to her intrusion. She knew the risks involved; continuing her attempts to find a kink in the barrier would only serve to accelerate the invading affliction. But if I don't find a way out soon, the alternative is far worse. Worrying about tomorrow won't do me any good if inaction means there won't be a tomorrow. I won't sit here and allow myself to-

A faint but noticeable crack appeared on the otherwise smooth surface of the barrier, causing her heart to suddenly jump. Increasing the intensity behind the light spell she had been channeling from the surface of her fingertips, she ran it along the subtle crack like a scalpel, gradually dissecting deeper. Could this be… Jagged lines formed on the translucent wall as she applied increasing pressure on its surface, giving the appearance of cracking glass. With a final push, numerous cracks appeared, expanding in a sunburst pattern of defects.

Now or never! Half a dozen white spheres appeared on the palm of her right hand as she took a step back, expanding in size. Preparing to launch them, she realized to her horror that their shape began to distort, twisting as darkening shades of gray appeared on their surfaces. Within the blink of an eye, the luminosity of the spheres were gone, replaced by a set of Chaos Blitz spells that revolved around the palm of her hand. She hesitated for a moment, uncertainty beginning to overwhelm her. I shouldn't use this…it'll cause the affliction to rapidly spread. But what choice do I have left?

Leaping backwards, she focused her energy into the Chaos spells, fusing them together into a black Blitz Prime spell that spiraled rapidly in her palm. With no other choice, I have to make it count! Swinging her arm forward with intent, a wave of fury swept through her as the black sphere flew forward. Clenching her teeth tightly, she fought against the dark force beginning to claw into her consciousness. So deeply engulfed in her internal struggle was she that she didn't even flinch as her Chaos spell detonated against the barrier defect. Long strands of golden blonde hair flew wildly before becoming plastered against her face by the thin layer of sweat that drenched her face. She raised her arm on instinct, blocking against the overwhelming force of her attack.

Struggling against it felt heavy, the atmosphere around here becoming cold and harsh. She had experienced such a feeling in the past in the presence of enemies under the influence of Chaos. Only this time, she realized to her horror that she herself was the cause of this terrifying aura.

As the debris began to settle in the wake of her attack, light blue eyes widened at the sight of a jagged opening created in the barrier. It only took her a second to realize that the edges of the defect were beginning to glow, expanding to coalesce together. Move now! Forcing her legs into a sprint, she leaped as she came with in a few feet of the barrier. Lunging forward, she swung her body into a horizontal dive, passing through the hole she had created. A searing pain rose from her right foot as it passed through its threshold, scraping the edge of the closing gap.

A soft groan escaped her lips as she landed on her stomach with a soft thud. Pushing herself off of the floor in a frenzy, she ignored the pain that left no part of her body unscathed. No time to waste, I have to get out of here. Taking each step was a struggle as she limped forward, her hands hanging freely at her side as she couldn't even begin to imagine how to deal with that problem at the moment. Nearing the altar lined with sheets of crimson velvet highlighted with shades of gold, she felt evil eminating from its very presence. She turned the corner to avoid it, reaching her hand out to grab at the black handle of an old wooden door partially shrouded by a curtain that draped loosely from the ceiling. After spending countless hours trapped behind the barrier, she had plenty of time to evaluate her surroundings. Though she had initially planned a quick escape through one of the stained glass windows that adorned the walls near the ceiling, she knew she was far too weak to even attempt that maneuver. This door was her only option, and it was at this point that everything suddenly went wrong.

Coming within inches of the metallic handle, she felt herself flung into the air. Every limb in her body suddenly felt foreign as she found to her horror that no matter how hard she struggled, she was unable to move any of her muscles. She didn't know how long she remained suspended in the air, her eyes gazing helplessly upon the countless rows of pews that lined the dark cathedral.

A sinister laughter echoed through the Inner Sanctum as dark clouds rose from the ground, fusing together into robed figure. Watching as it levitated into the air, Lux felt her heart sink as a sinister smile appeared from under the cloak draping over its head. Coarse distortions appeared on the lower half of its face, shifting between two sets of contrasting features.

"Excellent…the time is drawing near. You are now ready."

"Let go of me! I won't let you do this!" Despite the intensity behind her words, the blonde found herself hopelessly struggling against her binds. The darkness of the being in front of her was overwhelming, its very aura alone causing her breathing to become erratic and labored.

"She and you are so much alike. Making defiant demands to which you have no right to even ask."

"She…you mean-" A gripping pain rose from her stomach to her throat as Lux realized the significance of those words. She knew the chances were slim, but a part of her remained hopeful that somehow the others had managed to escape. Even if she was at full strength, she knew that she wouldn't stand a chance against such an opponent, much less in her current state. Her only hope was that somehow her presence would have at least distracted the enemy long enough to allow the others to escape.

Even if I have to sacrifice myself, at least they'll be safe…that's what I kept telling myself. Now I know that with the way things are going…even that was but a fancy of a dream that will never come to fruition.

She felt her stomach rise as she found herself suddenly plunging downwards. Landing on the surface with a dull thud, sharp pains stabbed along her back as she let out a loud scream. Black sparks of electricity flew from her right palm as she instinctively tried to cast a Thunder spell, finding to her horror that just like her earlier attacks, it seethed of Chaos energy. Caught in the moment of hesitation, she felt a overwhelming force slam into her chest as her robed opponent's foot met her sternum. In an instant, the spell dissipated, leaving behind blackened hands marred by the affliction that now spread to her upper arm.

"Even a beacon of light can be overcome by darkness. Lose yourself in the grips of Chaos." With a swift outwards swing of its arm, the blonde's Celestia staff emerged from underneath the robes, grasped in the palm of its hands. Holding it forward towards the Demacian blonde, the robed Councilor swung it wildly in a blatantly taunting manner. "Behold your hopelessness and despair as you give into Chaos without the meddling of the Goddess."

Tossing it into the distance, the staff landed onto the stone surface lining the floor with a loud clank that echoed through the corridor. Turning her head towards it, she glanced on the surface of her legendary staff, blessed by the divine altar of the Goddess. She reached her hand towards it, subconsciously feeling as though it was calling to her. It was as though if she was somehow able to get ahold of it, she might have a chance.

No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than a paralyzing sensation consumed her body, binding her tightly against the marble altar that she laid upon. Tilting her head forward, fear consumed the blonde mage as wisps of darkness emerged from the robed Councilor's hand, wrapping around her body as a heavy sensation restricted her every movements. Shivers ran along her back as her binds thickened. The sensation along her skin was unlike anything she had ever felt; cold and hopeless, as though all the sorrows lining the darkened skies of The Void had descended to consume her.

So much suffering…I can't last like this. Was it all really for nothing?

The Sentient Ark, Undying Realm

Harsh growls escaped the jaws of a Void Terror as Fiora plunged her blade into its skull, its carapace crushing with a loud crunch. As the last of its struggled movements ceased with its dying breath, the Demacian leapt from its immobile corpse onto the purple platform that stretched into the distance. Taking off on a sprint without hesitation, she ran past the hulking creature to rejoin her allies. "No time to waste, let's move!"

The battles were becoming more frequent. Though everything was quiet initially, all of that changed the moment they had defeated the dark spectre. Voidspawn far stronger than anything they had encountered on Valoran began to appear, targeting them relentlessly.

Something has changed, it went from allowing us to roam freely to doing everything in its power to stop us from advancing. Biting on her lower lip, irritation was apparent on her face as the Demacian swordswoman sprinted forward, her blade gripped tightly at her side poised to strike. Reaching the end of the platform, another set of panels ascended, forming stairs that connected to the next.

"I don't understand it." Talon's voice reached over her shoulder, causing her to turn her head slightly to glance at him through purple bangs. "They're sending everything they've got at us to try and stop us. So why does this place continue to clear a path for us?"

Continue her sprint forward, Fiora found herself unable to respond to that question. The same question had been bothering her as well, only she brushed it aside when she found no reason to dwell on it. "Who knows? Nothing about this makes any sense…just be on your guard. The creatures are becoming more dangerous. Whatever it is they're trying to stop us from reaching, it's close."

Minutes passed as they traversed the open platform, turning as it made a series of sharp twists. With every object that flew past them through the air, she felt increasing unease setting in. The density of the flying debris was becoming sparse. As the last of the oddly lit panels passed, the sky became deathly quiet. An icy chill ran along her spine as the Demacian swordswoman gripped her Ragnarok tightly; the air around her far too ominous. Their surroundings left them completely exposed, and while they had encountered countless enemies along the way in their tireless charge, this sudden calm felt far more threatening.

A ghostly whisper filled the air; a soft roar echoing from all directions. Stopping momentarily, Fiora scanned her surroundings with icy blue eyes held in a vigilant stare. Not good! Breaking off on a sprint, she reached the far edge of the platform, stopping at the edge to watch as a final set of panels rose. The path formed descended onto an octagon-shaped platform, its floor panels brilliantly illuminated to give off a silvery glare. It was massive, yet didn't appear to lead anywhere.

"What the…a dead end?" Irritation was apparent in Ezreal's voice as he spoke, his fingers tightening into a fist. He had been holding onto the hope that somehow, traversing this labyrinth that seemed to defy all laws of reality would lead them to their missing companion. Anger clouding better judgement, the explorer descended the steps onto the final platform carelessly. "Arrgh! You've got to be kidding me!"

Under normal circumstances, Fiora would have instinctively responded to the gesture with a swift fist to the face. In such an exposed area pervaded by an uneasy silence, announcing their presence in such a manner was the most reckless thing he could have done. Oddly enough, it was her own anger with the situation that kept this reaction at bay. Damn it. After all trouble we went through, it can't all just be for nothing. Moments passed as none of them said anything, taking the opportunity to rest from the recent onslaught of battles.

"It makes no logical sense." Breaking the tense silence as she stepped past them, Vayne stared into distance, visually exploring the expanse for any indications of a new path they could take. A few heartbeats later, she let out a sigh, shaking her head in resignation of the situation. "Why would they put so much effort to stopping us from reaching this place if there was nothing to begin with?"

"Ahh who cares why?" Ezreal continued his rant, slamming his fist into the ground. Pain coarsed up his arm, and for a moment, it felt as though it was the only thing still real in his life. "We just fought our way through hell…and for what? Nothing…nothing but emptiness."

Watching as the argument began to break the fragile bond that held them together as a group, Fiora knew that only one thing was certain. This needs to stop. After everything that's happened, I need to be more in control of the situation if I'm to be of any use. Placing a firm hand on the explorer's shoulder, she spun him on his heels in an unexpected manner. "Ezreal, listen to me. You have every right to be angry. I promised you that we'd find her and so far nothing has come to fruition. If you're looking for someone to blame, then blame me."

"You think that taking the blame will fix everything?" His voice exploded, catching the Demacian by surprise as she quickly withdrew her hand. "Blame won't bring her back. It won't accomplish anything."

Lowering her eyes, Fiora knew that those words were far from genuine. In truth, she still blamed herself for what was happening. Despite the blonde explorer's claims, the anger behind those words made it difficult for her to accept them as the truth. Should I really expect any differently of them? Dropping her arm loosely to her side, she stared blankly at the white tiles that glinted under her feet. "Then what is it you want?"

"I want-" Ezreal paused as he turned towards her, the anger on his face slowly melting as he realized the pained expression in her eyes. Though his interactions with the Demacian had always been limited, this was the first time that his own actions had caused her to appear so vulnerable. "I want to be able to do something that matters…to bring her back and live life the way we decide. For so long, we've been slaves, first to the whims of the League, and now to the Councilor holding Lux hostage. I'm tired of it!"

"Then do something about it." Peering thorugh dull purple strands of hair, Fiora walked past the explorer to stare coldly into the distance. "Standing here and complaining about it gives you something to do, but it own't accomplish anything."

"Do what? We've been running around for hours and all we've managed to do is wear ourselves down." Kneeling onto the ground, he slammed his fist angrily into the ground. "We almost got ourselves killed so many times and all we've done is get ourselves cornered with nowhere else to go. This whole thing was a goddamn trap!"

"Then stop moping and find another way."

"And what if there isn't another way?" Ezreal's words became labored as he spoke, his chest rising rapidly as he breathed heavily. "What if we can't find her and no matter what we do, she ends up dead just like him?"

His last words struck a nerve in Fiora's head. Turning around swiftly, her armored fingers curled around the explorer's loosely hanging shirt, dragging him off of the floor by the neck. "Don't you ever mention him in that way!" Taking a few deep breaths, the initial shock of those words faded as she slowly loosened the grip over her companion. "We'll find a way…backtrack and maybe find another path…one that we missed. We'll keep trying…we won't give up until we find her."

A second whispered roar reached her ears, this time far closer than the last. Turning her head rapidly, she grabbed ahold of Ezreal's shirt, dragging him with her as she leapt towards the edge of the large platform. Clouds of Chaos energy gathered from all directions, twisting together before descending to shroud the center of the platform in its darkness. Condensing moments later, flashes of purple struck the surface of the smoky entity, black wisps clearing to reveal a massive black dragon. Raising its head to unleash a loud roar, the contours of its body became clear, its entirety comprised of bones pitch black in color.

A deafening roar echoed through the air as the Dracolich swung its head downwards. A deep blue glow filled its eye sockets, staring down at the champions with deathly intent. Spreading its wings to reveal plates comprised of long bones arranged in parallel fashion, the creature swung down to unleash a freezing gust.

Rushing forward the moment she brought the explorer to safety, Fiora swung her armored hand out as her Ragnarok summoned into her palm. Gripping the handle of the sword tightly, her eyes shot momentarily to the others behind her. "Besides all of you, everyone I know is dead or gone. I have no one else I can trust. As long as you're willing to stay together, I won't give up." Bringing her divine weapon to her side, she shifted her body into an attack stance as she watched her opponent's movements.

Blades suspended in the air, spinning rapidly as Talon reached her side. "Hate to admit it, but I can't say I disagree. We've traveled the same path, shared the same goals." Divine energy poured from the crystal on the surface of his armblade, bathing its serrated edge in a brilliant aura. "Let's carve this bastard into pieces."

Shards of ice formed in the air as its eyes glowed brilliantly, water molecules condensing into deadly Glacial Spines. As the barrage of icy projectiles flew forward, flames erupted from the surface of Fiora's weapon. Swinging her sword forward, orange flames erupted from the tip of her blade as her opponent's attacks neared. Mist filled the air as her Flamestrike tore through the ice dragon's attack, transforming it into a harmless steam.

Blades flew at the Noxian's command as the Dracolich took flight, twisting through the air with the waves of his arm in a fashion reminiscent of a former Ionian champion. Augmented by divine energy from the Goddess' crystal, the blades tore through the bony limbs of the dragon; shards of dried marrow showering through the air as the weapons emerged cleanly on the other side.

A smile crossed the assassin's face as his attacks found their mark. Though they were embedded within the body of the undead dragon for mere moments, it was all he needed. Raising his armblade, a brilliant aura erupted from the surface of the divine crystal. Rays of light flew from his weapon, spears that embedded into where the blades had previously hit. Seemingly having no initial effect, all notion of that went away when blue cracks appeared along the surface of the large beast.

A pained scream erupted from the creature as the icy barrier that had protected it shattered moments later. Setting its sights on the Noxian, its jaws opened as icy energy amassed into a sphere that increased rapidly in size. With an abrupt shift in its flight, the flying behemoth descended upon its opponent. As it readied its attack, a loud crunch filled the air as the tip of Fiora's blade met the bony surface of its skull.

Using her foothold on the creature's neck as a pivot, she let out a harsh groan as she pulled back on the handle of her weapon, forcibly extending its neck to redirect the course of its attack. A high-pitched buzzing filled the air as a smooth stream of blue light flashed across the sky, firing harmlessly into the distance. Trails of flurries descended as the last of the Frost spell disappeared. For a moment, it felt almost tranquil as snowflakes descended slowly over the champions, reminiscent of a twilight snowfall during the winters on Valoran. The coarse screech from the Dracolich that followed tore through the temporary peace, a harsh reminder of the gravity of their situation.

Fiora felt her organs shifting as the creature's movements became erratic, flinging its head wildly to free itself of her hold. Grabbing tightly onto her blade as she felt the lower half of her body being thrown wildly, she knew that she was only one unfortunate twist away from becoming paralyzed from the waist down. Recovering from a rapid flail of the undead dragon's neck, she flexed her body forcibly at the hips, her legs shooting forward to land on its bony neck. Pulling her blade directly towards her, she quickly dislodged her weapon, leaping off of her opponent a heartbeat later.

"Take this!" Silvery spheres formed around the blade of her Ragnarok, spiraling in a stable orbit. Touching her free hand to the cool metallic surface of her weapon, fiery heat flowed along it as she channeled a Fire spell through her arm.

Flames erupted along the edge of her divine weapon, spreading wildly to engulf the Blitz orbs that danced through the air. Focusing her efforts into the spell, she forcibly fused her magic together, forming a set of orbs that burned with fiery intensity. Swinging her blade down, the spells shot towards her opponent, creating a high pitched whistle through the air as the Flare spells left her weapon.

Loud explosions echoed through the air in rapid succession as her spells connected, unleashing a violent set of conflagarations. Cries of pain reached her ears as the scorching flames consumed the undead dragon. Reaching the ground moments later, she leaned forward, bending her knees and hips while simultaneously propping her free hand against the tiles to reduce the force of the impact on her body. Standing while swinging her blade back into an attack stance, she watched as her Flare spells continued to burn brightly; massive orbs of flames that spiraled violently upon their own individual axis. As the last of her opponent's cries ceased, she let out a sigh, her body relaxing as she turned towards the others. "Yet another falls."

The feeling faded quickly, however, as her shadow imposed upon the fiery glow of her spells disappeared in an instant. The sweltering heat that surrounded her disappeared, replaced instead by a freezing gust of air. Shifting her attention into the sky, she watched in horror as the fiery globes of her Flare spell disappeared, replaced by a shell of ice that rapidly overtook the flames. A sharp crash followed the moment the last of the flames faded, ice shattering as the Dracolich emerged from the icy cocoon.

Slamming to the ground, the massive dragon stood with struggled movements, the toll of the Demacian's spell on it apparent. Letting out a harsh roar, an icy aura surrounded the creature's body, bathing it in a brilliant blue hue. Countless cracks echoed thorugh the air as a transparent layer appeared on the platform, forming a reflective surface that glinted in the light.

Her heart raced as Fiora leapt away from the spreading ice. Though undetectable by the naked eye, her ability to feel the flow of magic made her aware of the imminent danger. It's gathering Chaos energy at an alarming rate throughout its body. There's no form or control, only the amassing of the dark energy and coverting it into ice magic. What bothered her most about the sensation was that she had felt it once before. Traversing the miasma of memories that filled the corridors of her mind, she quickly realized the horror of what was about to transpire. Relivash…he did something similar during his battle with Reginald. Though she had been lost in an internal struggle against a darkness threatening to consume her at the time, the feeling was unmistakeable. It intends to release all of the gathered energy at once…a Glacial Nova!

"Retreat, now!" Turning around, she instinctively wanted to gesture for the others to retreat using the panels forming a flight of stairs. All hope of that faded, however, as the panels fell into the abyss below. Whatever force that had held them in place had dispersed, leaving them stranded with no way of escaping the next attack. With no hope of winning, this thing intends to kill itself and wipe us out with it!

Countless hexagons formed in front of her opponent, multiple layers of an icy barrier forming around the creature. Moving instinct, Fiora's free hand went to surface of her divine gauntlet, surrounding it in a brilliant green aura as she freed her Aesir Crystal. Preparing to strike her blade through the rose-shaped stone, that idea disappeared as her opponent became engulfed in a brilliant light, letting out a viscious roar before everything faded to white.

Time seemed to stand still following the attack, every one of the Demacian's senses betraying her. She stood motionless, her field of vision shrouded by a blanket of pure white and her hearing muffled by the deafening explosion that preceded this state of sensory deprivation. Despite having been prepared for the icy sensation she knew would leave no inch of her body unfrozen, she felt nothing. It disturbed her that she couldn't even tell if she was even standing upright, the explosion throwing her sense of balance in her inner ear into total disarray. She didn't know how long she was like this, seconds turning to minutes as the blinding light began to dim, replaced only by darkness as consciousness faded.

A trio of seagulls flew through the air as Fiora's eyes trailed their motions. Letting out a set of soft squawks that added to the tranquility of the warm afternoon, their wings flapped lightly to ascend over the rooftop of a nearby store, disappearing from sight. Taking in a deep breath, a tinge of sea salt reached her nose as she sat nonchalantly on a set of outdoor chairs that felt a little too plush on her back for practicality. A subtle smile crossed her face as she closed her eyes, letting out the air she had held in her lungs in a relieving sigh.

Despite the wealth she had grown up around, there was but few times that the Demacian swordswoman considered truly peaceful. Escaping the realities waiting behind the closed doors of her house, even it was as simple as a few short hours near the Western seaboard of Demacia, made her feel safe. It had become a routine for her, a weekly trek from the Narbeth district as a means of liberation from the bounds of a harsh reality.

Picking up her drink, she glanced momentarily at the white tea-leaf drawn in foam on the surface of the hot cup of expresso. Though the fragrant aroma was pleasant and tinged her senses, she found its taste far too sweet, causing a slight cringe to appear for a brief moment. Yet, like clockwork, she found herself sipping at the same drink just like the weeks prior. Despite her aversion to consuming goods with strong tastes, she never changed her routine. It overwhelmed her senses, keeping her in the moment and pushing away all other concerns that plagued her mind.

"Umm...what's wrong with-" A child spoke from behind, a sense of innocence evident in the tone of the child's voice.

Fiora turned towards the source of the question, her eyes meeting those of an unfamiliar young girl staring back in awe. Tilting her head slightly at the young girl's odd expression, she wanted to respond, only to watch as an older woman quickly grabbed onto the child by the arm.

Pain was evident on the girl's face as she found herself dragged away forcefully, her feet almost giving out by the sudden jolt. "Get away from her now!"

The sudden outburst caused Fiora's heart to jump, her gaze shooting up towards the older woman whose voice was held in a frenzy. A quick glance was all she needed to appreciate the genuine anger and fear plastered on the woman's face.

To say that she was well received in the eyes of the public was further from the truth than even the most blatant of lies. Hiding from herself, she had spent years alienating herself from others, earning the scorn of those around her. This reaction, however, was something entirely different. Her arm stretched out inquisitively, as though to stop the woman for answers. Only something entirely different happened.

The woman screamed in pain, filling the air with agony as her body instantly twisted and contorted. It lasted only a moment, her wails silenced a heartbeat later as her entirety collapsed. The sound of bones snapping in rapid succession reached the swordswoman's ears, throwing her into a mixed state of horror and absolute repulsion. She couldn't explain what was transpiring in front of her, only that the previously normal woman had been turned into a wet towel being wringed of its contents. Shock turned into nausea within mere moments, her head lowering as she prepared for the heaves to return whatever she had just ingested back to the open world.

The vomiting never came.

What Fiora saw in its place, however, almost made her wish it had. Black clouds flowed smoothly from underneath her feet, forming swirls of darkness that spread along a flat plane. Unable to comprehend what she was witnessing, her eyes migrated towards the sky when the tranquil daylight disappeared in an instant, replaced by an eerie twilight. Just like that, the sun that shined upon the planet vanished from existence. Her eyes shot wildly around her as screams began to echo through the air, accompanying the rapid footsteps of others running frantically.

The sound of stone crumbling dully drew her attention as she took a few steps backwards, trails of darkness following her movements underneath her feet. Her heart raced, beating synchronously with the sounds of chaos to blend into a machine-like droning. In the midst of searching for the source of the calamity, she realized to her horror that the destruction was occurring all around her.

No…what is this? The very walls of the buildings around her began tearing themselves apart, solid stone peeling like tissue paper before rising like smoldering embers into the darkened sky above. Blood was shed as civilians hiding behind the exposed building foundations became distorted, letting out a final cry of agony before disintegrating into twisted images of their former selves.

Fiora stumbled backwards, her hand searching aimlessly for something to hold onto behind her. Overwhelmed by the sheer destruction taking place around her, she wanted something that could tether her back to reality. Bumping into a storm gutter on the side of the café she had previously lounged in front of, her gaze shot towards it the moment she realized it was searing hot against her skin. While the drain itself appeared a normal dull green color, what she saw the window adjacent to it caused her heart to sink.

Staring back at her was her reflection, only it was distorted into what she could only describe as pure evil. Her eyes sockets were empty, ghostly white voids in the place of where her eyes previously sat. Black arteries pulsated to the rhythm of her heartbeat along the side of her face, her face marred with countless black escars resembling terminal burns. Despite the horror going through her mind, her reflection was held in a sharp gaze that pierced through what little sanity she tried to grasp onto.

"What are you?"

No words came, but rather the expression on her image's face gave way to a sudden shift. In a heartbeat, the impassive demeanor disappeared, replaced by a demonic scowl. Razor sharp teeth protrouded from the gumline as its jaw opened far wider than humanly possible. She felt her own neck twist in a jerking motion, loud popping sensations traveling along her spine as her reflection revealed her neck twisted in manner not anatomically possible. Her heart racing, Fiora's senses became thrown into chaos as a piercing shrill filled the air. Struggling against the bloodcurling noise, she staggered backwards as the glass in front of her shattered against the force of the sound waves.

The next few moments felt like an eternity of torture. Struggling to escape the debilitating noise that seemed relentless no matter which direction she took, a deathly realization clenched at her with icy claws. The fear behind the older woman's actions, the spreading chaos, the horrifying screech; she was the reason for it all.

Letting out a panicked gasp, Fiora felt numb as she struggled to breath, the beating of her heart inside of her chest the only sensation she was able to distinguish amongst the storm of confusion. In an instant, the vivid nightmare had faded from memory, leaving behind only a lingering sense of rising fear. "Wha-," When her surroundings finally became visible again, a gasp of confusion choked past her throat as she lowered her arm, the events of her battle coming back to her. Not only were her limbs mobile, but on first glance, the surface of her forearm lacked even the slightest evidence of ice covering it to suggest that she had ever been frozen. Lowering her head slowly to glance at the rest of her body, she quickly realized why the icy sensation never came. It didn't work…but how?

"Woah, what just happened?" Ezreal's voice was faint, but definitely audible as the ringing in her ears began to slowly fade.

Against better judgement, the swordswoman turned towards the source of the voice, her heart jumping at the sight of her companions unharmed behind her. Letting out a brief sigh of relief, her gaze shifted forward again, drawing in a deep breath moments later as vertigo began to set in. She swallowed hard against the nausea slowly manifesting from her stomach, her face turning into a scowl of disgust as she tried to hold back the rising heaves. As the source of the blinding light faded and her surroundings returned to its baseline, her eyes widened as they gazed upon a large structure in the center of the platform.

A crystalline figure stood motionless, its harsh draconian shape glinting as straying lights reflected off of its surface. Staring into the core of the large structure, Fiora quickly realized what it was she was staring at. Gone was the terrifying Dracolich, in its place an icy shell of its former glory frozen in time.

"Everyone okay?" Talon's voice sounded muffled over her shoulder, her hearing in the process of a slow recovery from the massive explosion that had taken place just moments ago.

"Yeah," Shauna Vayne replied as she stepped forward, pressing her glasses against the bridge of her nose as she stared into the frozen apparition of the undead dragon. "What just happened…who did this?" Her gaze shot instinctively towards Fiora, only to be met with similar perplexity on the younger Demacian's face.

"Wasn't me. I couldn't do anything before the explosion." The confusion over what had happened gave the swordswoman a temporary respite from a terrifying truth. Everyone could have died because of my inability to act. Clenching her jaw bitterly, she held her fists tensely as shame in her own worthlessness during that life or death situation began to set in.

"It did that on its own." Talon spoke confidently as he stepped forward, his voice stern without his usual hint of jesting. "All it took was a little sabotage from my end."

"Sabotage…you did this? How…what did you-" Arched eyes stared at the Noxian as Fiora spoke, her mind going through the sequence of events during the battle to decipher the meaning behind those words.

"It's simple, really…I just turned its own defense on itself." Blades rose from the ground as he raised his arm loosely in a beckoning gesture. The razor sharp projectiles flew to revolve around him, glinting as they gathered like birds around a nest before landing harmlessly in his palm. "With the exception of being able to make these things fly around the air and poisoning the enemy with Holy magic, I don't have nearly the level of spellcasting ability as the rest of you." The assassin turned to face the Demacian swordswoman, the soft shuffling of footsteps filling the air. "Instead, what I figured out was that I could control the magic of anything my blades cut, and twist it against them. That time in Icathia-"

"What about it?" Fiora's voice was harsh as she spoke on instinct, instantly regretting her defensiveness after the words had already escaped her lips. The Affliction was something she had wanted to forget permanently, a painful reminder of just how close she came to personally killing everyone she ever cared about. She realized a moment too late that the reason she had even survived her possession was because of the person she had directed her anger towards. Closing her eyes, she turned away from the others, unable to bear the look on their faces as feelings of guilt began to set in. "Sorry, I just…forget it."

Why am I always like this? Why is it that I can't just be grateful for once in my life? Reflecting on her situation, she wondered if she even deserved the presence of the others. The Glacial Nova was but one of far too many incidents where she, and everyone she knew, would have died were it not for her companions. So why is it that only in battle can I show even the slightest resemblance of comraderie? Nothing's changed…the moment the fighting ends, the old me comes right back to snap at the first thing that I find unpleasant. She drowned the sound of the others out as Talon continued to proudly explain how he had managed to use the Dracolich's shield to contain the icy spell within its borders.

What happened next was unexpected. Lowering her head as she stood remote from the others, her muscles jumped as Fiora felt a pair of hands rest on her shoulders. Letting out a deep breath, she slowly raised her head, opening her eyes hesitantly to come face to face with the Noxian assassin. Examining his demeanor, she saw no ill or manipulative intentions. "What do you want?"

"Trust in me…in all of us. What's done is done. Don't let yourself be consumed by it." Knowing what the Demacian in front of him had gone through, a part of Talon wondered if such a thing was too much to ask for. Watching as she tilted her head to allow purple bangs to fall forward, he saw for the briefest of moments the weakness that she was desperately trying to hide. He found it hard to believe that this was the same person whom he had witnessed just moments ago charging into battle without the slightest hesitation. Drawing her closer in an embrace, a part of the Noxian wondered if she was going to resist this gesture, his heart nearly stopping in anticipation of something that never came. Instead, he felt her rhythmic breathing slow to a comfortable pace as she showed no signs of wanting to break away. "We'll make it through, and after all of this is over, we'll be free to do what we want."

"We keep saying that…but look where we are. That hope might as well be a dream." Her voice sounded muffled as her arm hung loosely at her side, feeling the rhythmic beating of the Noxian's heart against her temple. A miasma of thoughts rose in her mind at that moment; a mixture of confusion and an odd sense of comfort. The last time she allowed herself to be held this way, she ended up watching the other person die in front of her eyes just days ago. She swore she couldn't let that happen again, yet the rising and falling of the Noxian's chest against her skin made her somehow feel secure. "I'm sorry…you…all of you keep trying so hard to support me and all I've done is treat you like crap."

"You've been through a lot." Taking a step back to hold the Demacian swordswoman at arm's length, Talon stared into her cerulean eyes, a struggle between beauty and sadness behind them. "I know it isn't easy to overcome it all and believe in others again. But take it from me, the first step is to start believing in hope for yourself. Cause hell, we want to help but we can't expect you to trust us if you can't even trust yourself."

"I know…I know…you keep telling me that but-," She let out a soft sigh as she stared blankly towards the ground, averting her gaze momentarily as she gathered her thoughts. She knew he was right, and so was Ashram when he had said the same thing to her in the past. There was no logic behind her flippant attitude; only fear and stubbornness explained her hostility towards the only people left in her life. "I'll try. You and I both know that I'm not good with issues like trust, but I'll try."

Talon lowered his hands to give a soft rub over her upper arms, a simple gesture that just a few weeks ago, he wouldn't even have imagined dare attempting on the deadly Demacian in front of him. "Coming from you, it's all that any of us can ask for."

A flash of blue engulfed platform from the corner of her eye, causing her gaze to suddenly shoot towards the source as she withdrew from the Noxian's hold. Cracks began to appear at the top of the Dracolich's icy prison, shards of its very mass splitting and ascending as a luminous stream of energy into the sky. As it expanded to form a spiraling blue pillar, the rest of the undead dragon disintegrated, dissolving out of existence.

"Watch out!" Grabbing ahold of the assassin's arm, she flung him behind as she stood forward attentively. Widening her stance, Fiora gripped her blade tightly as her mind rid itself of unnecessary lingering emotions. She was glad that under these circumstances, she was at least still able to reliably enter this state of hypervigilance. "What is it now?"

"You are ready. Allow me to extend an invitation to enter the Inner Sanctum. Bear witness as the audience to my ascension and watch as Chaos bleeds over the world of the living."

As the last of the dark voice's echoes faded, all that remained was a constant deep humming from the spiraling blue pillar of light. Fiora stared quietly with icy blue eyes into what she knew had to be a gateway to the location that the voice had referred to. Her suspicions had been running high since her fight with Kolminye, but hearing those words only served to agitate her unease. Maybe she was right after all; this thing wants us there. But why take the risk when it already has what it wants? It knows we'll try to stop it from happening? A part of her began to wonder if it was all nothing more than an arrogant taunt, giving false hope in order to demonstrate just how powerless they were.

"All right! Well what are we waiting for?" Ezreal's voice cut into her thoughts as he took a few steps forward, stopping a few feet away from the edge of the glowing portal.

"Hold it!" Vayne spoke with irritation as a look of incredulity appeared on her face. "Were you always this stupid or has your time here destroyed what was left of your brain?" Letting out a soft growl of anger, she stood between the explorer and the edge of the portal. "We just got invited by that thing to some corrupt, forsaken place. When did logic become so easily disposable in your mind?"

"Well what do you propose then?" The blonde Piltoverian seethed in anger, clenching his jaw tightly to reveal his teeth as he stared down the older Demacian. "You heard it yourself, Lux is in there! It's exactly what we spent all this time looking for. Now, what, you're going to abandon it and turn back to wander through here like trapped mice?"

"So go ahead then. Enter the lion's den. But ask yourself this, what will Lux think if she had to watch you get slaughtered unnecessarily trying to save her?" Her voice was cool and composed, contrasting the explorer's fury.

"So what, you want us to leave her then? After all the hell we've gone through to find her, we just going to give up and let her be used somehow to destroy the world?" Curling his fingers into tight fists, Ezreal found himself trembling in outrage. Their goal felt so close, just on the other side of the portal that he could almost touch it. He never imagined that it would be one of his own allies who would try to restrain him.

"No…we're not leaving her." Fiora extended her arm between them as she spoke, letting out a sigh of irritation moments later. "Everything about it sounds like a trap, but really, I don't think there's any way around it. This thing…it's probably been watching us this whole time since we got here. It found us so easily that I don't think it matters what we do; it will know what it is we're doing."

"Attacking first without regard for consequences…that philosophy hasn't changed thus far." Shen mused from a distance. Normally not one to interject, his teachings had always placed him in conflict with the younger Demacian's lack of discretion. In light of their current situation, however, he found himself oddly willing to throw aside the reservations that he had adhered to his whole life. "Traveling the path of least resistance; perhaps it is not an unwise decision in this case."

"You realize that there are far more treacherous scenarios waiting for us were we to cross these borders. That shade that we fought…" Indignation began to rise in Shauna Vayne's voice. At every step of the way since their departure from Piltover, she had advised against proceeding with their ill-fated journey. She knew the danger; that proceeding with the impulsivities of the younger Demacian would lead to dire consequences. "It was just a shadow of the darkness called Genesis, a fraction of what the real one is capable of. Even then, we were all nearly slain by that abomination. Now we're exhausted; we've been worn down by one skirmish after another since then. Can't you see? The whole point of this place was to drain us until we had nothing left. Now it conveniently comes to lure us in and take us out like vultures."

"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I can still fight!" Ezreal announced with confidence, swinging his fist into the air. "Look, if that thing thinks that was all it took to tire us out, it's got another thing coming. We stay here longer and we'll just get even more exhausted. More creatures will come and attack until we have no reserve left. How long do you think we'll last?"

"And how long do you think we'll last against Genesis?" Vayne chided in a low voice, closing her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You think I don't know that we can't stay here forever? There has to be another way. Far too much blood has been spilled, and going forward will only lead to greater bloodshed."

"Staying shall lead to the same outcome." Normally unaccustomed to verbal conflicts over issues irrelevant to those of his Ionian order, Shen found himself unable to restrain his involvement. He knew his decision to do so was clouded by emotions he had tried so long ago to rid himself of. Decisions based on emotions aren't decisions at all; they're instincts, ones that lead only to unwanted consequences. Telling himself that failed to help, as he bitterly knew the result of his inaction after sensing the disturbance in the League that day. By doing nothing, he helped to spark the series of events that brought him to the Undying Realm. "We may not be able to undo the past, but without moving forward, we have no future to shape. You either strive to become better, or allow yourself to become worse. There is no such thing as remaining the same. Perhaps, the only option left is to take a leap of faith."

"So just because we can't stay here, means we plunge recklessly into the most danger-"

"Vayne!" Fiora's voice cut the night hunter's words off, her speech harsh with impatience. "Enough already, we don't have time to stand here and argue about this."

"Then when is a good time? When everyone is dead, slain at the hands of that maniacal Aesir?" Sarcasm filled the older Demacian's voice as she snapped.

"No one is going to die. Not if I can help it." Flinging her arm outwards, her Ragnarok disappeared as Fiora took a few steps, stopping short of the night hunter. "I know, to this day, you still think that you could have saved everyone from being sacrificed had you been stronger. I know you don't want to see any of us hurt."

"Then why insist on going forward with this? We both know what the odds are."

"Because Lux will get hurt if we do nothing. If Genesis succeeds in using her for whatever purpose he kidnapped her for, our own lives will be but an insignificant number compared to grand scheme of things." Curling the fingers of her free hand into a tight fist, her knuckles went white as all the blood from her hand drained under the force of her grip. "When we set out from the Valley of the Magi, we decided we were going to do two things: stop Genesis, and bring everyone back safely. Both of those possibilities are waiting for us on the other side of this portal. That's all they are, possibilities, not guarantees. But that's a chance I'm willing to take; because the only alternative is the certainty that our friend will die without incident."

Shauna Vayne remained silent for a moment, her jaw clenched tightly as she fought against her conscience in an internal struggle. Memories of herself hiding in fear as her parents were killed in front of her eyes filled her mind, followed by images of terror in the League Arenas as she watched powerless to stop the ritual from taking place.

"Before, you may not have been able to prevent the past from happening, but this time it's different. We're here; we stand alongside you against this world." The slight shifting of metal rubbing against cloth reached the swordswoman's ears as her fellow Demacian trembled at those words. "So what'll it be, stay idly by and watch as our friend and the rest of the world falls, or bring the fight to the enemy and strike them down once and for all?"

Vayne remained plastered in place, her body immobile save for the subtle tremors reflecting the internal conflict taking place. No matter what the others said, or how logical it sounded, a part of her couldn't relinquish the notion that proceeding would only lead to disasterous outcomes. "It's not that sim-"

A low winding sound suddenly filled the air, replacing the previously machine-like hum; its pitch decrescendo in nature as the border of the spiraling portal began to recede. The eyes of the champions shot towards the eerie pillar of light, watching as its brilliant luminescence began to dim, replaced by a dull glow waiting for its last spark to fade. One look was all it took to figure out what was transpiring in front of them.

"Time's running out," Fiora yelled demandingly, her vision darting rapidly between the night hunter and the collapsing portal. "Vayne, what'll it be? I don't want to leave you here stranded, but I can't give up on Lux like this, not when the chance to save her is staring us in the face."

Shauna Vayne's heart raced as she stood motionless, unable to speak as a miasma of internal conflict filled her thoughts. Crossing the portal meant going against everything she had taught herself, acting on a whim without even the slightest plan to carry out. Yet the past few moments had been enough for her to realize that trying to convince the others from proceeding was futile. Her jaw clenched tightly as she let out a soft snort under her breath.

"Vayne!" Fiora's voice was filled with impatience as it traveled through the air, causing the night hunter to let out a sigh of defeat.

"Fine, let's move!" Spinning on her feet, her hair flailed through the air as Vayne quickly darted towards the closing portal.

Watching as the large cloak of the Night Hunter flutter wildly before the last of it disappeared into the dim portal, Fiora shot the others a glance. With a quick nod of acknowledgement to the others, the younger Demacian followed suit, darting forward with the others trailing. Her view of the eccentric Sentient Ark faded, replaced by a bright glow that consumed her vision. Please be okay, Lux. We're coming.