A Search Through Runeterra (Arcane)

"I am the rift between life and death. The thin divide between breath and grave."~ Yorick, The Shepard of Souls

From Jarvan's introduction as a hopeful optimistic king, he has hardened. The man has been pushed over the edge till he himself took the kingdom by its reins.

The arc is coming to a close. I will be tying everything up in a nice little bow while also adding tidbits for the future. Tomorrow the arc ends and the day after a new volume begins.

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"You are leaving?" Eileen asked.

It had been a week since the battle and the two were sat outside her home, on the grass, watching the kids play.

Gregori nodded. 

"Why not stay until you are healed?" She tried, "Your body is not in perfect condition yet."

"I know. But it is not my decision to make. It is theirs. And they have made their decision." He pointed to his children. "The less than welcome behavior of Demacia has turned them away from ever thinking of this place as home. The Freljord is still their top pick to live in, weather and food be damned." He sighed, "I hope they will find the next place better." A smile crept up, "No. I think they will find it a great place to live."

"The lands around Targon?" She asked.

He nodded, "It is beautiful and with only two opposing factions, it is relatively peaceful if you stay out of the way."

"Relatively?" Eileen frowned. "Jarvan is making quite a few changes."

"He is." Gregori accepted, "They are revolutionary. They are dangerous. And above all they are good for the kingdom."

"Then why not stay?"

"Because turbulent times are coming to Demacia sister." Gregori answered, "All the scorned nobles.... where do you think they would go?"

"They would leave?" Eileen seemed unconvinced.

Gregori smiled, "Of course. Now that the king has stepped up, the illusion of power they thought they had has disappeared. They get nothing by staying here. They will move to Noxus, and set up shop there. And with that move they carry with them the inner workings of the kingdom. Political tea if you will. And they will serve that tea at the right price. Anyone can become a noble in Noxus. Money is the easiest way to do it and most of them have an abundance of it."

"Then why not stay and protect this place." Eileen tried convincing him, "You can make the change you want to see. Be part of the entire thing."

Gregori shook his head, "I still have the issue of facing the Darkin Eileen. That burden is greater than anything else. The only thing that comes close is the weight of being a parent."

Eileen seemed defeated. "Will you visit?"

Gregori stilled for a second. And then he nodded. "One day. When all of this is done and I am finally free of this burden."

"Will you write?" Eileen asked.

"Of course. Once we have settled we will send regular updates." Gregori smirked, "Maybe even our address so that you can visit for a change of pace."

"Our parents have moved to one of the houses close to the forest now." Eileen informed after a few moments of silence. "Alain has taken up the position of head and he is firmly in the king's faction now."

"A positive change." Gregori commented.

Eileen nodded, "Lets hope that this is a permanent thing."

She looked at her statue, "The Durands have managed to make their statues move."

Gregori raised an eyebrow.

"Petricite golems they have begun to call them. Their research has paid off." Eileen explained. "They are still in their early stages, only being able to react to a couple commands but it is something."

"Something amazing." Gregori finished for her.

"What about you?" Gregori asked.

"With the changes and all our loses, we need every hand available." Eileen sighed, "I will be going back to my position of Captain by the end of the week. Borders are being strengthened and the king himself is overseeing the frontlines."

Gregori's eyes widened. "He is serious."

"As serious as one can be." Eileen nodded, "It is like a whole different person. There is no nonsense in his court anymore. He garners respect by simply existing."

"He is feared." Gregori explained.

"That is dangerous." Eileen stated.

"No." Gregori shook his head, "That is how a king should be. If there is no fear then there is no power. It is not time to build a force based on a strong relationship. There is no time. Noxus will be knocking the doors soon."

"But there is rapid change." Eileen muttered, "Too rapid."

"As I said before Eileen." Gregori sighed, "There is no time."

She sighed as well, and then her eyes shot toward the sinking sun, "One more night then."

"One more night." Gregori nodded with a soft smile as he watched the sunset.

-x-

Xin Zhao was fascinated by this.

How could it be possible?

It shouldn't be.

But it was in front of him.

Alive.

Blooming.

He reached for it, running a hand across it.

It was real.

He had planted the seed as an afterthought. As a way to bury his past and move on with the future.

But it had bloomed.

Thirty years later, he finally had something to connect to his home. His origin.

The pink petals were just as soft as he remembered. He smelled it. A pleasant expression forming on his face as he did.

It smelled the same.

"A flower caught your eye uncle?" Jarvan asked as he walked to his side.

Uncle. It was a term he had called him from a very young age. Only in private. But Xin had come to view the boy, now man as he own.

He raised the flower and displayed it to Jarvan. "This is what caught my eye."

"What kind of flower is it?" Jarvan asked as he observed the almost reverent expression on his uncle's face.

"The Ionian Spirit Blossom." Xin Zhao explained as he waved it slowly, still in disbelief. 

The flower was different.

Its step was as thick as a branch and grew right out of the ground. Bright pink petals with a soft glowing blue center.

"From your home?" Jarvan asked in surprise.

Xin shook his head, "No. It grew here."

"Why is that surprising?" Jarvan asked.

"It shouldn't be possible."

"It is just a flower, is it not?"

Xin Zhao shook his head, "No. It is the symbol of Ionia. This flower-" He gestured to it. "It can only grow in the First Lands. The heart of Ionia."

"And it has grown here." Jarvan concluded, "Does it mean something?"

"I do not know Jarvan... I do not know." Xin Zhao stared at the lower in thought.

Jarvan looked between the man and flower and smiled, "Maybe you should investigate."

"Hm?" Xin looked toward the young king.

"Yes. Go investigate." Jarvan repeated, "Maybe your journey hasn't ended yet uncle. This flower is just proof of that."

"Where do I go?" Xin asked.

With a bright smile, Jarvan answered, "Home."

Xin Zhao was taken aback, but then he started chuckling, "I am home Jarvan."

"But your mind is not." Jarvan shot back, "Go. And return home whole."

Xin fell silent. Thoughts ran through his head. "No. Not yet. Once Demacia is stable. That is when I'll go."

"So be it." Jarvan acknowledged the finality in his uncle's words.

"Gregori is leaving tomorrow." Xin changed the topic. "You could have tried harder."

"To have him stay?" Jarvan shook his head, "It wasn't possible. Demacia isn't that man's home no matter how much we would like it."

Jarvan plopped to the ground as he looked up, "And he has a grand mission to complete."

"Saving the world...." Xin Zhao muttered. "A burden too big to bear on a single shoulder."

"But he bears it without complain." Jarvan finished and then sighed, "Though it is interesting what he said."

Xin turned to the young king.

"I asked him what we could do if another one of those weapons attacked." Jarvan spoke, "He said that Demacia is being protected by forces beyond our understanding. If things became too dangerous, pray to the sisters."

"The sisters?" Xin seemed taken aback, "From the stories?"

Jarvan nodded. "He didn't explain further. But I have a sneaking suspicion that they aren't just stories anymore."