....
Four days had passed since their arrival in Ionia, and during that time Jill and Excella seemed to be thoroughly enjoying what felt less like a mission and more like a rare vacation. The tranquil lands, the slow rhythm of life, and the natural beauty of the region were a sharp contrast to the worlds they were used to.
Their group had also grown.
Two more women would be joining them when they eventually returned to their own world.
The first was a woman with jet-black hair and sharp golden eyes, her face marked by elegant streaks of gold around her cheeks—LeBlanc. The second was another dark-haired woman, a nine-tailed Vastaya fox, known as Ahri.
As for how these two ended up joining the group, the answer lay in events that had begun two days earlier.
.....
Shortly after arriving in Ionia, Jill's group had constructed a massive mansion formed from a colossal living tree, deep within one of the forests near Navori. The structure rose unnaturally fast, as if the land itself had accepted its presence without resistance.
That was when the rumors began to spread.
Travelers whispered that people had started going missing whenever they tried to investigate a forest where a giant tree had supposedly appeared overnight. Those who ventured too close often found themselves hopelessly lost, unable to retrace their steps no matter how familiar the path should have been.
Even worse, several men who attempted to push deeper into the area reported being attacked by vines and roots that moved as if alive, striking without warning.
Another rumor soon followed—one that gained far more traction.
It was said that five powerful mages had settled in the forest, claiming it as their home. According to this version of the story, they had placed powerful defensive measures around the area, causing intruders to become disoriented and triggering the forest itself to repel them.
Most people found this explanation easier to accept.
Concerned by the growing unease, the Elders of several villages sought answers from Karma, a woman widely respected as a spiritual and cultural guide of Ionia.
"That place is not meant for everyone," Karma told them calmly, her expression gentle but firm. "Those who do not belong there should not attempt to enter. I advise you to leave it undisturbed."
"And the five newcomers?" the Elders pressed, clearly having investigated the matter themselves. "Are they responsible for this?"
"They are guests," Karma replied after a brief pause. "If you encounter them, treat them well and do not provoke conflict."
As she spoke, her gaze rested on a sacred tree nearby—one that had grown noticeably larger in recent days. The land around it felt denser, richer, as though the natural magic of the region had quietly intensified. New plants had begun to sprout across Navori, spreading into areas that had long remained barren.
"We understand," said the Elders, who seemed to return after receiving an answer from Karma.
Deep within the heart of the forest, the Vastaya tribes noticed these changes more clearly than anyone.
Unlike the humans, they welcomed the shift.
Vegetation flourished at an unprecedented rate, growing nearly three times faster than before. The flow of magic through the land felt stronger, more responsive, making it easier for them to live, to train, and to preserve their way of life.
For years, human expansion had forced many Vastaya deeper and deeper into the forest, away from their ancestral lands, simply to survive and reproduce in environments where nature still thrived.
Now, for the first time in a long while, the balance of Navori was quietly tipping back in their favor.
There was, however, another rumor—one far more dangerous in nature.
This time, the source was LeBlanc herself.
Quietly and carefully, she allowed whispers to spread among those with ties to Noxus, planting her words into the right ears at the right time. The rumor spoke of an ancient artifact that had recently awakened deep within Ionia—an artifact said to have been discovered first by five mysterious women who arrived from beyond the land.
More importantly, the artifact was rumored to possess a terrifying property.
Eternal life.
Immortality.
Such a claim, whether true or not, was more than enough to ignite interest within the highest ranks of Noxus.
Before long, the whispers reached Boram Darkwill, the Emperor or the Grand General of Noxus. A man already consumed by ambition and paranoia, Darkwill could not afford to ignore even the slightest possibility of such power existing beyond his grasp.
In response, sealed orders were drafted.
Letters bearing the authority of the Grand General were sent to Noxian operatives already embedded in Ionia—those tasked with observing the strange forest and the mansion that had appeared without warning. Their mission was clear: confirm the existence of the artifact and gather any information possible about the five women rumored to be guarding it.
At the same time, Darkwill authorized a second, far more secretive operation.
Several elite units tied to the Black Rose were dispatched under false pretenses, moving quietly through covert routes. Their true objective was simple and ruthless—secure the artifact at all costs, before any large-scale invasion or open campaign could be considered.
If immortality truly lay within Ionia's forests, then Noxus would claim it first.
And if the rumors proved false?
Then the chaos alone would still serve its purpose.
In the shadows, LeBlanc smiled—because regardless of the outcome, the board had already been set, and the pieces were moving exactly as she intended.
Meanwhile, in a small village on the outskirts of the forest, a group of Noxian soldiers quietly received a sealed letter—delivered by a young girl who looked far too fragile for such a task.
One of the soldiers frowned as he took the letter from her trembling hands.
"What's this?" he muttered, glancing at the wax seal.
Another soldier leaned closer. "Hmph… looks official. Could it be from the General?"
The girl nodded quickly, her voice shaking. "Y-Yes, sir."
The man broke the seal without hesitation. Inside the letter, stamped clearly and unmistakably, was the emblem of the Black Rose.
As he read its contents, his expression slowly changed. The tension in his face eased, replaced by a thin, satisfied smile.
"So that's how it is…" he murmured.
He folded the letter carefully and slipped it inside his coat before turning his gaze back to the girl. His eyes lingered on her for a moment—calculating, cold.
"You," he said, pointing at her. "You're coming with me. You'll be our guide."
Without waiting for a response, he flicked a coin toward her. It clinked as it hit the ground near her feet—payment for her silence, and for her obedience.
The girl quickly picked it up, nodding repeatedly. She didn't dare say a word.
She remembered what had happened the last time someone refused the Noxians.
Someone who had said no.
They hadn't even screamed for long.
The memory sent a chill through her body, and she lowered her head, swallowing her fear as she stood beside the soldiers. To them, she was nothing more than a tool—expendable, replaceable.
And as the Noxian unit prepared to move, following the Black Rose's hidden orders, the village fell silent once more—fully aware that once Noxus set its eyes on something, nothing stood in its way for long.
....
Meanwhile, as morning arrived, Jill slowly woke up, her eyes fluttering open as the soft glow of the rising sun filtered through the leaves and gently shone across her face.
"Huuaammm…"
She yawned quietly, still half-asleep.
Even so, she didn't complain. In fact, she felt unusually refreshed. The night before, she had slept deeply and peacefully, the kind of rest she hadn't realized she needed until now.
After getting out of bed, Jill headed to the bathroom. The water there flowed naturally from within the massive tree itself, clear and warm, cascading smoothly like a hidden spring. As she washed herself, she let out a quiet breath of amazement.
"I really don't understand how Raviel managed to design a place like this…" Jill muttered to herself.
The water was incredibly clean, perfectly warm, and carried a faint, soothing fragrance. She didn't even need soap—whatever system Raviel had created seemed to wash away dirt and fatigue effortlessly, leaving her feeling light and refreshed.
Once she was done, Jill stepped out of her room and immediately noticed Excella and Sarah in the common area. The two of them were laughing softly as they played with a Poro, tossing small biscuits into the air.
The fluffy creature eagerly caught them with its tiny paws, hopping in place and wiggling happily before devouring the treats.
"Good girl!" Excella clapped, amused by the Poro's adorable behavior.
In the background, Abigail was busy in the kitchen, quietly preparing breakfast, the gentle sounds of cooking filling the tree-built mansion.
"Good morning," Jill greeted them with a small smile.
"Oh, morning, Jill," Excella and Sarah replied almost in unison.
After stretching her arms, Jill glanced around. "By the way… where's Raviel?"
"Raviel?" Excella hummed briefly. "Oh—she's out back. Said she wanted to relax for a bit. I think she mentioned something about fixing one of her dolls."
Jill nodded, smiling faintly at the thought, before heading to the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee. With the warm mug in hand, she stepped outside toward the back garden.
"Hmmm~ hmm~ hummm~"
A soft, gentle melody drifted through the air.
There, Jill found Raviel sitting peacefully beneath the shade of the tree, carefully sewing a small doll with her own hands. Her movements were slow and precise, her expression calm as she quietly hummed to herself.
Jill couldn't help but shake her head.
For someone who could practically do anything… why does she choose to sew by hand like this?
The thought amused her more than it confused her.
She sat down beside Raviel. "Morning, Raviel."
"Morning, Jill," Raviel replied warmly, her eyes still focused on the doll as her hands continued their delicate work. "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Yeah," Jill answered honestly.
As Raviel continued humming, Jill's gaze drifted past the garden—toward the vast Ionian forest beyond. Towering trees, layered greenery, and soft sunlight painted a breathtaking view. The air felt calm, untouched by urgency or conflict.
They have been here for two days now, and it seems that Jill is starting to enjoy their relaxed life here. And now Jill allowed herself to simply sit there—coffee in hand—quietly taking in the peaceful scenery of Ionia.
....
On the other side of the forest, after several exhausting hours of traveling from village to village, the group finally reached the outskirts of the woodland where rumors claimed a strange structure had appeared.
The trees here grew denser, their canopies overlapping and dimming the sunlight into narrow beams that barely reached the forest floor.
"Sir… that's the location mentioned in the rumors," the young girl said nervously, raising her trembling hand as she pointed toward a distant hill.
At the top of that hill stood a massive, ancient-looking tree, far larger than any other in the surrounding forest. Even from where they stood, its silhouette dominated the horizon. The distance between them and the hilltop was roughly eight miles, yet the tree was unmistakable—impossible to miss.
The Noxian officer narrowed his eyes, a slow smile forming beneath his helmet.
"Good," he said calmly. "Then keep leading the way."
Behind him, three Noxian soldiers followed in silence, their armor dark and scarred, their presence heavy and oppressive against the quiet rhythm of Ionia's forest.
The girl hesitated, fear clearly written across her face. "B-but, sir…" she began, her voice shaking.
She had heard the rumors. People who wandered too close they will get lost until they are exhausted and decide to return, and those who are determined to continue will be attacked by trees and even tree guardians.. Paths twisted unnaturally. Plants moved when no wind blew. She didn't want to be lost in this forest—much less attacked by something she couldn't fight.
"I said move forward," the officer snapped.
Before she could react, he struck her across the face, the force sending her tumbling to the ground. Dry leaves scattered as she hit the forest floor.
"You heard me," he growled coldly.
"A-ah—y-yes, sir!" the girl cried out, wincing as she struggled to her feet. Her hands trembled, but she didn't dare resist. She had seen what happened to those who disobeyed Noxians.
Lowering her gaze, she turned and continued walking, each step heavier than the last. The soldiers followed close behind, their boots crunching against the soil as they pressed deeper into the forest—toward the towering tree on the hill.
Unbeknownst to them, the air around the path ahead felt subtly different. The forest was quiet… too quiet, as if it were watching their advance.