Luxanna shook her head solemnly and said:
"It's not that simple. This is a family death duel. My family could even demand one if you tried to call off the marriage on the day of the wedding."
A family death duel—an ancient rite in Demacia.
If invoked, every able member of the family must fight in the arena. Their lives are on the line.
In this battle, external forces can be called upon. Even entire armies—so long as both sides agree.
It ends only when one side is completely defeated.
Lux knew all too well who would handle such a mess if it came to pass—her aunt.
With Tiana Crownguard's unyielding nature, she wouldn't hesitate to challenge the head of House Laurent—Fiora's father.
For her, only his death could restore the honor and dignity lost by the Crownguard name.
Still, Lux didn't believe it would come to that. Her aunt wasn't bloodthirsty.
She understood that a reckless move like this could damage the Crownguard family's standing in Demacia, doing more harm than good.
But for the sake of her plan, some truths needed to be told more gravely than others.
"Is that... really true?"
Fiora's hand froze around the hilt of her sword. She looked at Lux carefully.
Lux's expression was serious—this wasn't a bluff.
"If you don't believe me, ask your father. Even if the marriage falls through, I still consider you a friend. I don't want your families to be destroyed over this."
Lux added softly, her voice touched with concern.
"...Alright. I'll think about it."
Fiora's eyes flickered with something unreadable. She was clearly mulling over everything.
"Actually... there's another idea I've been thinking about. But I don't know if I should say it..." Lux hesitated.
"Just say it."
Fiora furrowed her brow. She was lost right now, unsure of what to do.
She didn't want to speak to her father about any of this. But not doing so might lead to disaster.
Why did everything in Demacia have to be so complicated?
Lux was known as a kind soul—most people agreed on that.
And from the time they'd spent together, Fiora felt the same. As a friend, she trusted Lux might have a better suggestion.
Even if she is a Crownguard.
"...Never mind," Lux sighed.
"It's probably better if you don't know. If you go down that path, you'll have to leave your family behind. No turning back. Your sword will be your only companion, and your only duty will be to justice."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Fiora asked, confused.
"Is there really such a path?"
"You really wouldn't care about leaving your family behind?" Lux asked, raising an eyebrow.
"As long as I can keep practicing with my sword," Fiora said firmly.
"Tell me."
"Alright... The way is to—" Lux met her gaze, her voice steady, "Join the Judicator Order."
"Judicator Order? You mean the disciples of the Winged Protector?" Fiora's eyes widened.
"Aren't they being hunted now?"
Even as devoted as she was to the blade, Fiora wasn't oblivious.
Rumors had been swirling around High Silvermere ever since the Winged Protector's defeat at the hands of Noxus.
Whispers claimed the Winged Protector wasn't truly divine. Some said she was a fraud.
Others accused her of secretly using magic. Treason. Blasphemy.
But not everyone believed those tales.
The Winged Protector had watched over Demacia for centuries.
Many still believed in him—many owed her their lives.
Some even called for the repeal of Demacia's magic ban in her name.
Now, the streets of the capital were boiling with debate. Every tavern, every courtyard—voices clashed and overlapped in endless argument.
"Judicator Order severs all family ties," Lux said quietly.
"They make an oath: no more parents, no more name. Only justice. Even if their own parents turn to evil, they are sworn never to waver. But—"
Fiora cut in, eyes narrowing, "But what?"
"The Winged Protector has fallen, and the Judicator Order can't even protect itself. Is now really the time to join them?" Fiora asked, brows furrowed in doubt.
"Didn't your grandfather get word back?" Luxanna asked, tilting her head.
Fiora shook her head. She could see hesitation and inner conflict flickering across Lux's face, but chose to reassure her instead.
"If there's something you can't tell me, don't worry. I'll figure things out. I'll think it over."
Lux hesitated, then exhaled quietly.
"Let me tell you... The message my brother sent—he said the Winged Protector might return within a month."
Her tone was calm, but her expression was layered and hard to read.
Fiora misread that complexity as guilt—for betraying a secret.
She blinked, surprised, then leaned in and spoke with earnest conviction.
"Don't worry. I won't breathe a word. If she truly returns… then joining the Judicator Order might not be such a bad idea. Thank you, Luxanna."
Lux forced a soft smile. But inside, she felt a prick of guilt stab deeper.
Fiora had it all wrong.
The truth was, none of this came from her brother—he hadn't written anything of the sort. The supposed message was a lie. A performance.
Her source wasn't a person at all—it was the magic book.
Everything she knew about the Judicator Order and the Winged Protector came from those pages.
If she hadn't been with the book herself, she might've believed it had witnessed divine wars firsthand.
But she'd heard whispers—of mages so powerful they could bend time itself, glimpsing fragments of futures not yet written.
Maybe the soul trapped in her magic book had such power.
That was the only explanation that made any sense.
She steadied herself, nodded solemnly, and said with practiced confidence:
"This is part of a divine agreement between Demacia and Noxus... I've prepared for it in advance."
Fiora's eyes widened. "What are you planning?"
There was a shift in her tone—subtle, but present. For the first time, she was seeing Luxanna not just as a noble girl with a bright smile, but as someone with plans of her own.
Maybe... she was like Fiora. Maybe she had her own fate she wanted to escape.
'Is she trying to avoid a political marriage too?' Fiora thought suddenly.
'Could it be... Jarvan?'
Her thoughts spiraled, but Lux only nodded, her tone turning serious.
"I do have things I need to do. But... it's hard to explain. I promise I'll tell you everything—someday."
She paused but gave a quiet assurance, the words carrying the weight of trust.
Right now, secrecy was everything. But one day, she'd share it all.
"It's fine," Fiora replied with a hint of warmth.
"We're the same, you and I."
Something about Lux's quiet resolve resonated with her. There was a strange comfort in knowing someone else was also hiding their true path.
She gave Lux a knowing, sympathetic glance.
That single look made Lux's heart twist unexpectedly. The warmth, the trust—it stung in the best and worst way.
But before she could get lost in guilt again, Fiora spoke up, her expression serious:
"If there's anything I can do to help you—say the word. I swear on House Laurent's name—I'll help you break free of your fate."
Lux flinched slightly at the weight of that oath.
"No need to be so dramatic…" she said, a bit flustered.
"I just... need a little help from you."
Hearing Fiora invoke her family name like that made Lux's stomach tighten with discomfort.
Had Fiora guessed something? Or was she just that loyal?
This entire meeting felt strange. Lux felt like a messenger—someone delivering words from the magic book to Fiora and back.
This was about her, yet she was the one who understood the least. It felt like she was the outsider in her own story.
Still, she buried the feeling, forced a soft smile, and spoke the final line she'd rehearsed:
"I want to start something small... an organization. One that can bring light to everyone."