Inside the Church of the Lightbringer, within a dim confessional.
"The Mageseekers' patrols are growing harsher by the day. Every time I see them pass by my doorstep, I can't help but tremble in fear. How long are we supposed to live like this?"
A calloused repairman sighed heavily as he shared his troubles. Around him, the circle of hidden mages wore the same heavy expressions.
"Exactly. Lately, their sweeps have become even more aggressive. Each time I sense the Gray Marks they carry, my own magic threatens to lose control."
"I feel it too, my magic has become restless, more unstable with each passing day."
"Even in my sleep I jolt awake, terrified of my power spiraling out of control."
"Isn't there any better way to control our magic?"
"I'm getting old. My grip over my magic is slipping, and I dread the day the Mageseekers discover me."
A chorus of sighs filled the chamber, weighing the air with gloom.
"Sister Vanessa, is there truly no solution?"
One young man turned to the robed nun presiding at the head of the gathering. She oversaw these clandestine assemblies, tasked with soothing the panic and despair of mages forced to live among common folk in fear.
Vanessa shook her head. "I'm sorry. For now, all we can do is rely on self-discipline, to calm our hearts and rein in our power. Only by keeping our magic in balance can we avoid it boiling over."
"I can't endure this any longer. Each day feels like torture!"
A middle-aged man groaned, clutching his head. "When I look at my family, then at myself, it feels like my chest is on fire."
"I've already decided to leave. Whether it's Noxus, Shurima, or far-off Ionia, anywhere is better than this constant torment."
At his words, many faces darkened with grief. In the crowd, Lux opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came.
Not long ago, she had been no different from them, living in fear of her gift, terrified the day would come when her magic was exposed, and she would fall to Mageseekers or Inquisitors.
But ever since meeting Duke, she had found solid ground to stand on. No longer did she see her gift as a curse, rather, she embraced it, developing it with Duke's reassurance.
"I've heard whispers," someone said suddenly. "That some have discovered a way to resist the Mageseekers."
"You can't mean…"
"The rebels!"
"What are they plotting now?"
"The situation's already tense. What could they be planning?"
"I don't know," the man admitted grimly.
"But anything has to be better than living like this."
"Day after day, trembling in fear, never at peace!"
"Better to risk everything than sit here waiting to die!" he declared, rising to his feet. His voice shook with passion. "Why should the nobles stand above us? Why should we alone bear all the suffering?"
"For ordinary folk, magic is branded a curse. But to those lofty lords, it's a gift from birth! They fear neither Mageseeker arrest nor the Inquisitors' knock at their door."
"But what of us?"
"If we're discovered, we're dragged from our homes, put on trial, or struck down where we stand!"
"I'm done with this life!" he roared, voice echoing off the confessional's walls.
Lux could not help but speak. "Perhaps… there's still hope for change."
"Hope?" He sneered. "Looking at you, I'd wager you're from a noble family yourself. What would you know of our fear?"
Shaking her head, Lux countered softly, "I know that fear all too well, living with magic in secret, never knowing if tomorrow would expose me. But now, more than ever, we need patience. Change will come. If we make the wrong move now, there may be no turning back."
"Patience?" He scoffed. "The nobles call it talent. For us, it's a plague."
"You'll never understand."
"Enough, Dale. That's quite enough."
Sister Vanessa stepped in to calm the tension. Dale gave a disdainful snort, but sank back into his seat. "I've already made up my mind. When this meeting ends, I'm going to seek them out. I'll see if they truly can change our fate."
"Can they really?" asked a freckled girl timidly. "Do they really have a way?"
"Anything is better than sitting here waiting for death."
"I think we should wait a little longer," Lux urged anxiously. "His Majesty is already moving to bring about change! The Hextech Gate is being prepared, once it's complete, the kingdom will surely be different!"
At those words, Sister Vanessa's eyes flickered with something sharp. She cast a subtle glance at Lux.
"Ha. So, you know quite a lot."
Dale stood once more, impatience plain on his face.
"But our patience is spent. Each day we remain, we struggle in fear. I'm done. I'll break this cycle!"
He raised his voice to the crowd. "I'm in contact with them already. I can go now. If anyone else dares to take a stand, come with me!"
At once, several people rose decisively. Others hesitated, then followed when they saw their neighbors commit.
"Everyone, please, calm down!"
Lux stood quickly, desperate to stop them. Duke had already shared with her faint hopes of the ban on magic being repealed. Watching these people now made her heart pound with urgency.
"Hmph."
Dale shot her a cold glance, then led his followers out through a side door.
Vanessa sighed. "They've made their choice. All we can do is pray they don't meet disaster. As for the rest of us, remember, keep your minds steady. Don't let fear cause your magic to spiral."
She rose, prompting the others to stand as well. Nods and murmurs of agreement followed, and slowly the chamber emptied.
"Lux, stay a moment, would you?"
Lux blinked, puzzled, but did not hesitate. "What is it, Sister?"
Vanessa smiled gently, taking her hand. "Just now, you spoke of the Hextech Gate. Could you tell me more? It may be very important for us all."
Lux hesitated. Duke had warned her not to speak too freely about the project, lest it draw dangerous attention.
"I'm sorry, Sister Vanessa. My teacher forbade me from saying too much."
"But surely it's worth sharing?" Vanessa's voice took on a subtle, mesmerizing tone, her eyes glimmering with an unnatural light.
"Y-you…"
Lux tried to resist, but as her gaze met Vanessa's, her own vision blurred, her will faltered.
"There's no harm in telling me," Vanessa whispered, leading Lux by the hand toward the same door Dale and the others had taken.
From the forest's edge, Duke emerged, holding a discarded veil once worn by Morgana. He raised an eyebrow.
"Well, well. Didn't expect this pleasant surprise. I've managed to connect with Morgana, having her on my side will make for a powerful ally."
"Not only that, she could help advance the Hextech Gate project."
"Jarvan III wants the ban on magic repealed, he'll need her support as well."
Tucking away the veil, Duke stroked his chin thoughtfully. Morgana and Kayle, twin sisters, venerated by Demacians as the Winged Protectors. Their standing among the people was second to none.
"If I can persuade Morgana to stand with me, the rest will fall neatly into place. Even Demacia itself might become my new treasury."
Following the path back to the temple, Duke found the place mostly deserted. But Lux was nowhere to be seen.
"Strange… where did Lux go?"
Approaching his bickering husky, Angke, he asked, "Lux? Where is she?"
"Woof?"
The brown eye tilted in confusion, while the blue eye shook firmly, neither had seen her.
Duke's brows knit. Lux was an obedient child, never one to cause worry. If she promised to meet him here, she would not simply wander off.
"Something's wrong."
Sliding Edith's visor onto his face, Duke deployed a small drone, tapping the frame. "Locate Lux's position."
"Yes, boss."
Lux carried the equipment he'd given her, complete with a locator chip. Within seconds, Edith pinged her signal.
Duke's expression hardened. The signal was moving swiftly, toward the harbor.
"Tch."
He clicked his tongue in irritation. He'd only been gone a couple of hours, and someone dared abduct his student.
"Damn it. Who has the guts to steal my apprentice!?"
End of chapter....
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