"Any word of my sister? No? Not a single sighting in five years? Lux.... Where are you?"~ Garen, The Might of Demacia
Damn, a very eventful week.
T1 won again. I really wanted KT to win but the pressure broke them in the last two games.
Now... the lore with the Darkin. Zaahen was.... something. His kit being a better Xin feels like a mockery but also thematically accurate at the same time. I don't know how to feel about it, especially when they gave him Aatrox's revive as well. Also having seen the story in its overall entirety I am still not convinced about Yunara. Like what does she do in the story other than whine like a little rat.
Now, if I were you... I'd let some chapters stack up before reading. It should help the flow. My bad about that.
Anyway, enjoy the chapter.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Anything I want?" Jinx voiced just as the door began to close.
The demon stopped, "Anything."
The door fully closed.
Gregori rounded on Jinx, "Do not take the deal. No matter how sweet it sounds. You will get what you want for now..... but you will eventually have to pay it back. And it will be a price you cannot afford. Ever."
"But don't you have one with you?" Jinx pointed to Tibbers, "And you're all happy."
"Yes. And there are two reasons for that. One... who said that we aren't paying? We are. Constantly. But it is small enough that it doesn't matter. Two. Tibbers like the kids. That is all that is needed."
Jinx looked at the door with desire, "It can like me."
"Tibbers liking the children was because my wife was forced to become a vessel for it. It has been with Annie since her birth and the other kids for most of their lives. All of this while constantly taking away a crucial emotion from them all." Gregori sighed, "But that is an acceptable payment for their safety."
"If he can bring them back...." Jinx began, "Then he can have any payment he wants."
Gregori raised his hand and placed it on her shoulder but she quickly dodged it. He sighed, looking at his hand as he spoke, "The dead shouldn't be disturbed. And even if you brought them back.... they wouldn't be the same. Demons, regardless of strength, are unable to pull someone from death's domain. The Lamb and Wolf will not let them."
Magical constructs from your memories.
Tibber's voice growled roughly.
"So you would be pledging your life and whatever you hold close now for mere memories." Gregori told the girl.
"I have no one!" Jinx yelled.
"You do." Gregori answered, "You have Sevika. You have Isha. And even if you hate each other now.... you still have your sister."
Jinx didn't reply.
"Did the fucking bear just speak?" Vi said as she walked out of the room. The others followed quickly.
Annie spun around and nodded, "He fights too."
"He.... fights...." Vi replied unable to form other words.
I do.
Vi's head snapped down to the bear.. "You... do..."
Gregori focused his attention on everyone there, "Do not.... ever make a deal with a demon. You will always have a bad end."
"Its why we don't have a deal with Tibbers." Annie answered.
Gregori nodded, "Mutual understanding. But that is about all you need to know about demons. Do not go after them. Do not try to befriend them. They will attack you and they will kill you."
He turned to the door where Mel was moved to and walked into it. He looked around the room, inspecting if there was a break in of any kind and only after confirming that everything was fine did he reach for his bag and shield.
"You are leaving?" Sydell asked.
Gregori nodded, "My stay was prolonged because of Ambessa but now the search must continue. The faster I find it..."
"The safer we will be." Sydell finished.
"The earlier we will be back home?" Briar answered.
Their eyes turned to her in anger.
Daani snorted, "You want to go back home instead of exploring?"
Briar shook her head as her eyes widened, "No! I... was just.. trying to fill in the words." She turned to Gregori, "Stop leaving your words unfinished."
Gregori raised both hands and shrugged, a small smile on his face. After which he returned back to his preparation as he slid the shield into his arm and the spear across the bag.
"Food? Waterskins?" Sydell asked.
"Still have jerky and I had Daisy fill the waterskins before we were interrupted by the demon." Gregori replied without pause.
He turned to Caitlin and Vi, "The two of you are free to go. There must be people waiting for you and even though you had sent word of your safety over the past few days.... they will be pacified upon your return. Just don't start any wars down here. It would be appreciated it you could keep both cities peaceful until we are out of here." Gregori turned to Jinx and Sevika, "Same to you two." He patted Isha's head, "And you stay out of trouble."
"Now you lot." He addressed his children. "Briar is in charge. That means she follows you on every outside trip. And at least three of you must remain here to watch over the Medarda over there. You can cycle out your watches as you would like. And if there is ever a fight you cannot handle, run to the others. I know all of you have the capabilities to do so. Your artifacts must be kept at arms reach at all times."
Then, focusing on Sydell, he spoke, "I suppose you have your eye on me already?"
Sydell nodded.
"Good." Gregori replied. "If I need to tell you something, I will repeat it every so often out loud. Listen in if you can."
"Until then.." He addressed the whole group, "Have fun and stay safe."
"And you." He looked at Jinx, "Don't chase after the demon."
With those words, he walked out of the Last Drop and into the rapidly darkening city.
Jinx slumped into a seat and after a few moment of thought, she spoke to the group, "The old man was talking about a lot of travel right? Tell me stories of your adventures."
Caitlin and Vi stopped as they reached for the door to leave.
"Okay!" Briar answered with a smile.
The two looked at each other before nodding and turning around, "We will stay around for story time."
Jinx looked at them in calculation. Her sister met her eye with a smirk on her face. She calmed herself and focused on Briar as she began her story. The story of Gregori finding her in Noxus.
-x-
What good was a spy once their identity was revealed?
Her's identity was crafted over a decade of undercover activity. But now? All gone. Once word from the two had reached the upper brass in Piltover, they had essentially removed her from the Piltovan enforcer force. Steb and Loris refused to speak to her.
It was to be expected after all. She did lie to them all this while. Spy. Lying came with the job. There was nothing she could do about that.
It didn't matter much to her.
But her life was on hold now.
General Medarda hadn't given her a mission. Spies were given mission after mission. She hadn't been given one.
The Noxian forces hadn't welcomed her into the fold as well.
It was simple.
They had cut her off once her usefulness had ended.
A decade of relationships all gone in an instant. And even more years of servitude overlooked.
What she was feeling wasn't anger, it was emptiness. Everything she had ever had was now gone.
No family as she was an orphan when taken in.
No friends as she was trained as a spy and any she had made as a spy would not speak to her.
She watched as a group of people walked past her..... smiling... laughing.... and something broke inside her.
And a cold thought rose to the surface.
She would kill them.
All of them.
"Would you like to make a deal?" A slick voice asked from beside her. "I can give you anything you'd like.... for a price."
Maggie turned to the voice, a twisted smile forming.
"Anything you say? Well I'm in the market for a certain weapon."