Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Aphelios," Alune whispered. Her voice was quiet in the dark, but clear over the course of the noctum in his veins. "We must go."

There was a flash of strange buildings, dimly lit in the night, a sound like rushing water or screaming cheers, and then another flash of too sharp teeth and red hair, then splattering blood against stone, pooling on pale tiles to mix with the dust of the floor. His blood? Or from the man he saw? He'd never seen anyone like that before. A target? Aphelios, still numbed, reeled with the foreign sensations, trying to make sense of the vision. He sent out a question over their connection.

"She is weak, but ready to be found. We must go to her."

'And the man?'

"He will lead us to her." At her brother's dulled despair she quickly added, "he will not be our enemy. The moon guided me to him for a reason. He will help you."

Aphelios would have sighed with relief. Instead he stood and went to ready himself for travel. Ionia- it was far from Mount Targon, but if there could be an end to the bloodshed… he'd travel to the edge of the world for it.

While being the boss was a lot, scratch that- a hell of a lot better than not being the boss, it was still boring as fuck.

It had its moments, sure.

Just yesterday Sett had to physically toss an unruly patron out the window and the guy vomited on impact. That was pretty unusual, pretty new, pretty exciting. But then the fights started back up and he had to watch his guys watch the till, while watching the crowd, while watching the fights, while watching the doors, while schmoozing it up with regulars and irregulars, and all while subtly directing his staff. He never had a moment of peace and yet, these days it still seemed to drag.

Every day was the same. Get up. Get ready. Go to Momma's house and eat breakfast. Go to the 'construction office' and do paperwork (why was there so much paperwork-). Go back to Momma's for dinner. Go to the pit. Watch some fights. Watch some tables. Break up at least four additional fights (people ain't payin' to see that, c'mon-). Pay the staff. Pay the fighters. Count what was left and add it to the pile (he needed to buy another vault-). Go home. Rinse and repeat.

And all because he wanted… what?

Sett stared up at the ceiling of his office, eyes lazily tracing the whirling mural of himself fighting a dragon single handedly, and scoffed. He'd commissioned it as a bit of a joke early on, a way to claim the whole thing as his own, showboat a little, and spend his ridiculous amounts of coin on something to make him laugh. He didn't feel much like laughing now. 

Maybe today he could be the star of the show, just like old times, just to switch things up. But a quick glance at the roster had him curling his lips. Gerry the Maneater (horrible name, obnoxious attitude, and no, cannibalism is not a fighting technique ). Pirate-hunter Corso (he turned in one bounty for some almost famous pirate and made it his entire personality). And Scullia of the Freljord (she would be an alright option if she'd stop complimenting his 'summer curves' and 'plenty-fat'). 

It looked to be yet another boring day.

Just the thought of suffering through another evening of barking orders and catching cheats and stopping petty fights had him feeling snappish. By the time the doors opened and spectators began flooding the stands, his patience was frayed. He'd already crushed two goblets, actually growled at Sherap, and broken the arm of a chair in his office. His favorite Ixian wood bourbon had run dry an hour into the spectacle, Gerry lost his fight in less than a minute against a yordle of all things, and one of his doormen lost some Zaunite's poison dart gun. Sett was going to combust.

"Boss," Harres, one of his bookkeepers, hesitantly called. "There's someone who wants to meet with you."

Nobody ever wanted to meet with him for anything good. Sett wasn't in the mood to indulge, Vastayan hospitality be damned.

"Tell 'em to meet me in the pit then," he snarled, hoping that was enough to deter anyone dumb enough to knock at his door. It usually was.

Harres scurried off, only to return a few minutes later, "he uh- he accepts."

That piqued Sett's interest, enough to almost dampen his foul mood with a bubble of interested anticipation. "Tell him five minutes. It's all he's gotta last if he wants a talk- unless he says somethin' stupid first."

It would be tough to not take out his frustrations on whoever it was, but knowing his luck it was probably that drug trafficker wanting to cut a deal. Or that poacher wanting to try his hand at getting a beast-man pelt again . Or that arms-dealer out of Bilgewater who'd been poking the edges of Sett's territory lately. 

Eager to find out who wanted his ear, he dropped down into the dirty pit as the announcer's voice barely overtook the growing cheers of the crowd. It was a special show, a surprise fight between the boss himself and a challenger wanting to bend the boss's ear. Seemingly out of the shadows, a man stepped forward towards him.

Sett stared, confused. 

This man did not look like he belonged in a pit fight. While he was tall, this stranger was lithe and thin under the bulk of fabric clearly meant for somewhere colder. One good grapple, an easy task given how much draped clothing he wore, and he'd probably snap like a twig. Almost every inch of skin was covered up, and while he wore some finery, it looked modest- moonstone and silver and wooden prayer beads. Strange purple markings dripped from one eerie and dark violet eye, like a crescent moon, and from under his lips and down to his chin. The color was stark against his tawny skin. This guy looked like he'd burn to a crisp in the sunlight, but seemed to glow in the moonlight.

"You lost, moonboy?" Were the first words to come tumbling out of Sett's mouth. The guy was obviously not from around here- likely not from Ionia at all. Hell, what if they didn't have fighting pits where he was from? What if this was some cultural misunderstanding? This was gonna be a bloodbath if so-

The man didn't react, save to pull a curved sickle from his side with one hand while the other gestured between them, to his impassive purple lips, and to the blade. He must not have wanted to try yelling over the crowd.

Sett… still didn't know what any of that meant, though he'd clearly misjudged his opponent. The blade looked wickedly sharp and glinted somewhat sickly pink in the moonlight shafting down from the skylights. He didn't need magic to know whatever it was coated with would be bad news. 

Whatever- after five minutes he'd have an answer of some sort.

Out of the corner of Sett's eye, he saw the flag fall, starting the match- but he didn't dare look away from his mysterious opponent, who was dashing forward the moment the flag waivered downwards. Mystery guy was fast and before Sett knew it, there was a sickle coming towards his thigh. Far from a mortal blow, but one that would end the match. Sett rolled to the side, just missing the blade, before springing back up and pouncing, claws outstretched in lieu of his fists. No need to fully incapacitate anyone just yet .

Nimbly, his opponent ducked from under him, seemingly uncaring that the edges of his sleeves were ripped under Sett's claws. It went on like that for what felt like eons. Sett lunging, grasping, snarling, and this blank-faced man ducking just out of reach every time. It took a lot of Sett's focus to avoid the man's blade, his movements far smoother and skilled compared to Sett's rougher 'techniques'- until the tip of the sickle embedded in his bicep. A perfect opening.

Without thinking, Sett grabbed the man's wrist, pinning the blade and also the man right before a sensory overload hit him like a fist to the face.

His ears pricked and then burned and then throbbed as the individual voices of hundreds of people washed over him. Auras of magic blurred the air, visible and disorienting. A very prominent blur of bluish white hovered around his opponent's shoulder, like a ghostly guardian. He could almost make out a face and hands. His tail bristled, the fur along his back standing on end, and wow was he glad he kept his coat on. More so than that was the collective stench . His heightened sense of smell had truly become a curse. Normally he reveled in the blood and sweat and energy of the pit but right now-

Sett's nose scrunched. 

And then the sneezes came. And wouldn't stop .

Through the haze of too much of everything all at once and the jerk of involuntary movement, he managed to unhook the sickle blade from his bicep. The man didn't make a fuss at the slight manhandle, but he was, essentially, getting uncontrollably sneezed on by a half-Vastayan nearly twice his size. Like a switch being flipped, the sneezing stopped as the blade left his skin, the sights and smells and sounds died down to a reasonable volume, and the world returned to normal.

The arena was oddly hushed- it wasn't everyday the boss of the fighting pits just stood around unmoving with a blade in his arm.

Sett took a deep breath and wiped his nose with his free hand- dripping with blood from the hole in his flesh. His challenger, deadpan as he was, lifted a single eyebrow as if to say ' you good? '.

In response Sett tightened his grip until the man was forced to drop the sickle. He kicked it unceremoniously to the side. "Let's not do that again, pal." 

Mystery man seemed unfazed by this, regarding him blankly. Almost leisurely, he stretched out his free hand into a shaft of moonlight. As if woven out of coalescing threads of aether, another much sharper and luminescent sickle appeared, glowing red.

"Huh," was all Sett managed before he had to quickly duck out of the way, releasing the grip he had on his opponent. 

Not wanting to find out the hard way what this one did (and unsure how much time was left on the clock) Sett kicked, catching the mystery man in the gut and sending him sprawling. A lunge and Sett was there, fingers wound in the man's pitch black hair while the other one delivered a relatively gentle punch to the man's cheek. It still snapped his head to the side and left an imposing red mark, but there was an attempt. Oddly enough, if the man felt anything, he made no show of it.

Sett was seconds away from leveling another love-tap to the mystery man's face when the flag raised and a cheer rose up. The five minutes passed, the boss was on top, and the challenger somehow managed to survive. Sett's still frazzled ears twitched. Straightening, Sett wound his fingers into the man's coat lapels before hauling him up and all but dragging him out of the arena as the crowd roared behind them. Mystery guy didn't even struggle as he was shoved into the luxurious back room Sett reserved for meetings, 'meetings', and naps outside of payout time. 

"Alright," Sett asked, heading straight for the liquor cabinet. "What did you want to meet with me for?"

There was a beat of silence. Sett turned back curiously to see what the problem was, only to become doubly as confused. With the half-Vastayan's eyes on him, the mystery man began moving his hands and fingers into shapes- sign language . But Sett wasn't fluent- and by fluent he meant knowledgeable past just the ruder gestures.

"Hold on, hold on," liquor forgotten, Sett quickly rifled through his desk for some paper and a pen. 

As the man wrote, carefully so, Sett turned back to pouring out some whiskey. After a moment of deliberation, he poured a second glass. He probably should have chosen something weaker and less bitter if he was going to offer it to a guest though. Some hospitality he had. His Momma would be ashamed. Before he could find something less pungent to offer the mystery man, one of the glasses was taken from his hand and a paper took its place. 

"Whoa, careful, that's a little-" mystery man downed it in one go, "-strong."

Sett looked down at the note. "Right."

' My name is Aphelios. I am here in search of a relic of extreme importance to my people. It takes the shape of a headband, made of platinum and moonstone. I was led to believe it was in your possession.'

Well. Honestly, that seemed pretty likely. One of the side-effects of being filthy rich was an almost uncontrollable habit of just… buying shit. Momma would get suspicious if he dropped off more than a pretty modest coin purse every week… which meant Sett had an obscene amount of money. So he spent it on whatever caught his eye. Fancy clothes, foreign delicacies, finely crafted one-of-a-kind furniture, artifacts and weapons from all over Runeterra- his mansion was practically swimming in luxury.

He easily might have picked up something shiny during a trip to the bazaar. Especially if he was drunk. Drunk Sett made a lot of impulsive decisions.

"I might have somethin' like that in my collection, sure," Sett scratched his chin. Grinning wolfishly, "say I have it though, what would you be willin' to offer? I paid a fortune for it, after all."

Mystery man, Aphelios , didn't react, save for taking the paper back to write a response.

' The headband is of incomparable worth to my people and our religion. It is an armament bestowed to the Aspect of the Moon. Regardless, my people have gathered together as much currency as could be found as payment. It may not suffice, but it is all we have to offer.'

To punctuate this he pulled out a jingling velvet sack and offered it up blankly. Sett could already tell, just from the sound, that there was… not a lot in there. He glanced inside to see a mix of foreign coins, some from Ionia but most from gods knew where, and a few tiny gemstones barely fit for jewelry in the mix. Shit, if this was all his people had that was… kinda sad.

"I see, I see," Sett gave the bag another little jingle before tossing it onto a low table. "Barely worth countin'. You might as well just take that back. We're goin' to my place."

At this, the first real glimmer of something flitted across Aphelios' face, but whatever it was, it was too minute to make out. Aphelios slowly wrote, ' I am prepared to pay any cost to retrieve this artifact, should you request it- ' 

Sett didn't need to read anything past that before he had both hands up, placating. He realized belatedly that he'd worded that extremely poorly. "Whoa, moonboy, no need for that. I was just givin' you a hard time earlier." Aphelios was handsome, in a very lethal and reserved sort of way (and Sett loved anyone who could hold their own in a fight), but momma didn't raise a pig. "What I'm gettin' at, is you keepin' that coin and us lookin' through my collection for that relic of yours 'n you just takin' it back. You did manage to last in my pit, after all."

Aphelios nodded, tension dropping from his shoulders minutely. It was like seeing a statue relax. Quieter, not that anyone could really listen in to the goings-on in this room, Sett added, "you can have that relic, no cost. Wasn't that merchant's to begin with most likely, and I obviously don't need the money." He slammed his glass down on the table, snarling, " but -", darting forward to grab Aphelios' lapels again, teeth bared, "you tell anyone I'm doin' somethin' soft for you, and I'll eat your liver."

Instead of being cowed, or really anything fear-adjacent, Aphelios' lips quirked up ever so slightly. 

'Thank you for your kindness .'

"Yeah, yeah, don't mention it," Sett leveled the bastard a severe look. "I'm serious."

Aphelios nodded, lips still quirked as if a smile was trying to peek through but couldn't quite breach his impressive poker face.

"Give me an hour to count the till and pay out. Then we go and look for that headband." Sett gestured loosely at the chairs, "you can stay here, if you want. Help yourself to whatever." Stupid Vastayan hospitality kicking in again.

Aphelios pointed to the decanter of whiskey on the table then back to his glass, questioning. Sett waved a hand, "go for it, moonboy."

'Thank you. This drink tastes very sweet. I enjoy it .' 

Sett stared at the words, confused. Most people, including himself, would describe this particular kind of whiskey as 'bitterer than rat poison'. "Right, yeah, okay." Aphelios probably just had a weird sense of taste. 

Sett ripped up the paper, tossed it into a waste basket and poured out one of his less expensive wines over the top, ruining Aphelios' carefully elegant script. No need for any evidence of his… do-gooding left around for people to find. He had an image to keep. 

It was a quick trip from there back up to the gamblers' tills, and Sett watched with a careful eye as the last of the bets were settled. An occasional regular would spot him and gush about how 'great it was seein' ya back in the pit' or to ask if 'you fightin' again boss?' To which Sett shrugged. He liked fighting. He liked being in the pit, liked the adrenaline rush, liked being able to let loose, and liked showing off why he was the boss. He worked hard to go from the half- beast bastard to who he was now. Part of him wanted to return to the pit, blow off steam and get some easy recognition. The other part of him found it too… Well, gettin' beat up and beatin' others up for entertainment got old sometimes, even if the coin was good. Especially if the choice of contenders was pathetic. 

He'd probably have fun going another round against Aphelios. The thought disappeared as quick as it came, the man was here for a mission, business. 

Maybe he should get a hobby. Start a new side gig. Travel somewhere. Maybe this thing with Aphelios could pan out into something interesting. Return a long lost relic back to its people and be the hero. A little adventure and then back to work. Like a vacation. Just the thought had him feeling a mix of excitement, anticipation, and impatience. He hated monotony.

Sett really needed something new in his life.

The bets weren't nearly settled fast enough, mostly thanks to one newcomer making a fuss (until he spotted the boss lurking nearby), and Sett practically hounded his three bookkeepers down to the backroom. While all four of them kept ledgers, the only one Sett trusted to count out the tills was himself- just in case anyone was stupid enough to attempt skimming off the top. If so much as a single coin was misplaced, he'd know.

That being said, nobody made an attempt to short him. They also wisely kept their mouths shut at seeing the last contender of the day, the one who survived five minutes against the boss himself, sitting comfy in the backroom sipping on the bosses personal stock. That didn't stop them from goggling dumbly at the guy, glancing about all shifty like they were trying to connect some dots. 

Sett ignored them and went to checking over ledgers and counting up the coin, easily slipping into the confidence and nonchalance of the Boss of Navori. It was well practiced, and while Aphelios' blank but interested stare was a new component slipped into Sett's well-oiled system, the count went without a fuss. A bag for each bookkeeper, bags for his two remaining fighters, bags for the staff. He was still left with a sizeable pile, just like every night. 

Well, actually, more than usual. A lot of people were expecting Aphelios to die in minutes. The house won big, he supposed. 

In a fugue of Vastayan decency, he packed up a nice cut for Aphelios. He did earn it- even if only by not kicking the bucket and putting up a good fight.

"Right, that's done," Sett stood, gesturing for the door.

Despite nearly emptying the whiskey, Aphelios didn't wobble once as he followed. While the usual evening hubbub was loud and raucous, the walk back to Sett's mansion was silent. Aphelios didn't make a single noise, not even a whisper of cloth, and if it weren't for Sett's heightened senses he would have thought he was all alone. Sett didn't really know what to say though, and without the crutch of the pen and paper, conversation seemed out of reach. He at least lived close to the pit and before long their awkward trek ended with an awkward look from the guards outside his home. It wasn't the first time he'd brought someone home, but usually it had a bit more alcohol involved. It wasn't that he didn't like company… 

Sett ushered Aphelios in, "feel free to get a headstart on finding that relic," noticing that the man had removed his shoes without prompting. He must be aware of some Ionian practices, or he was just very polite. Sett was pleased regardless, although he'd never remove his shoes in front of someone else. His guests were rarely so thoughtful.

Aphelios nodded, glancing around with muted shock- which, fair . Sett's mansion was predominantly marble and granite, with a high raised ceiling of mahogany and ceramic tiling accents, and draped in Ionian silk and plush velvet. It was a newer, grander style, and a far cry from the tree and tent homes usually found across Ionia. It was also part of a sprawling multi-floored compound, surrounded by gardens and personal orchards and each type of water body ranging from fountain to lake, with every room filled with several museums and luxury-shop's worth of stuff. Even though Sett really only inhabited a small sliver of space. 

He understood it was a lot to take in. 

Aphelios hadn't really moved from the entryway, but his brow was lightly scrunched in thought. After a moment he turned to face Sett, holding up a single index finger before kneeling to the ground and closing his eyes. Sett assumed that meant 'one moment' or something similar- assuming maybe the finery was a bit much to process- and headed towards a sitting area to wait. He inwardly preened, thinking he was getting better at this non-verbal communication business. His house being so fancy it broke a guest's brain was an additional bonus.

Quietly, he watched curiously as Aphelios just… knelt there. 

In his entryway. Eyes closed, palms outstretched, and statue still. Definitely not weird.

But then his hands started glowing.

Sett's ears pricked, a shiver running up his spine, feeling the distinct impression of something otherworldly entering the room, and dumbly he realized it was probably not smart to drag some random guy with magic weapons back to his place. As he stood up to try and… do something , the glow coalesced into a tiny floating orb, bouncing against the palm of Aphelios' gloved hands, whispering something too quiet for even Sett's enhanced hearing. The orb of light floated leisurely towards one of Sett's sitting rooms as Aphelios stood, shot the half-Vastayan a barely there smile, and went to follow.

Meanwhile, Sett had no idea what to make of things.

He raided a drawer for more pen and paper before padding after his guest. "What is that? Did you make it?" Were the first questions out of his mouth. 

Aphelios shook his head, ' my sister Alune. She will guide us to the headband. ' Aphelios had a sister? She was a little glowy ball? Wait- was she the shape he saw in the arena? 'Your house is very large. Do you ever get lost? '

Sett chuckled, he had, many times, especially after just moving in and it was empty. "Of course not."

In an uncharacteristic twist of his face, Aphelios shot him a look of utter, but dulled, disbelief as the orb led them towards Sett's least used sitting room. Out of the four he had, this one was the furthest away from where he'd stage parties so he, let alone guests, rarely went in. He'd caught too many party guests rifling through his shit to leave too much of his mansion accessible to others, but he also had too much space and not enough free time to indulge in most of his own property. It was little wonder he forgot about whatever he had back here.

The orb poofed through the door while Aphelios patiently waited for Sett to find the key to unlock the damn thing. He also refrained from reacting as Sett sneezed on entry, sniffling at the dust and griping about hiring a cleaning service. He did write, ' I apologize for the poison used during the fight. It was only meant to slow. '

"Oh," Sett didn't really get apologies for how fights went. There weren't exactly any rules and Sett wasn't a guy people tended to apologize to without being threatened into doing so. "Uh, I did sneeze all over you. And punch you in the face. So, we're probably even now."

A glimmer of amusement passed over Aphelios' impassive face before it was gone, replaced with something close to surprise as he caught sight of what Sett assumed was the headband on a fancy console table. Completely smooth and sitting on a little pedestal, it seemed to soak up the faint moonlight coming through the curtains, the edges glittering with moonstone. Sett had no recollection of buying it. 

Aphelios walked right by the thing, heading straight for a golden spike sitting in a pot. Sett had assumed it was a fancy bottle opener, but with the way it held his attention...

"Uh, is that another one of your relic things?"

Aphelios shook his head, then relented, writing a quick, ' it belongs to the Solari and the Aspect of the Sun. ' 

"So friends of yours-" at the mute, haunted look flitting across his face, Sett amended, "not friends. Right."

' They believe us to be heretics. Worthy of death. The Solari hunt us down because we worship the Moon instead of the Sun.'

"Aww, shit, Phelly," Sett didn't really know what to do about religious disputes and genocide and stuff. He was just an Ionian crime lord. He clapped a comforting hand on Aphelios' shoulder and squeezed as gently as he could (he could still hear some bones creaking). Aphelios didn't even twitch. "That sounds terrible, really. You can have that uh- whatever it is too?"

Aphelios looked like he'd rather not have the mystical Sun Aspect bottle opener too.

' If it isn't too much trouble, do you recall who you bought these from? '

Given that Sett didn't even remember he had either of these things, it would be a tall ask. But Aphelios and his people probably needed that relic back and also this was the most interesting shit to happen to him in a while. He could do his part for a little longer.

"Not really," he admitted. "But I do know who to ask."

The bazaar of Navori was a sprawling network of street vendors and permanent shops radiating from the heart of the city. Fitting for a city of its size, the bazaar had just about anything and everything, with hawkers and merchants peddling goods long into the night. However, some things could only be found late at night, tucked among its winding, narrow alleys. Such as anything at Caz's Antiquities. 

The shopkeeper himself was a slippery, rotund, greedy rat of a man with a penchant for "acquiring" hard to get and obscenely rare objects. If anyone could get their grubby little hands on ' armaments gifted directly from the Celestial powers above ' it would be him. Sett was loath to admit how often he frequented the shop, especially to Aphelios, since a chunk of the random shit in his mansion came from here. He was probably going to get a lot more visits from religious folk asking for their holy relics back after this. He should start charging admission.

It would be as easy as breathing getting Caz to spill his guts on where and how he got shit from two different Aspects, if he had. Which was extremely likely. What would be less easy would be getting to and from his shop in one piece. Sett wasn't the only crime lord in Navori, and while he was the undisputed boss of the gambling dens and fighting pits, his reach ended there. To be fair though, nobody had gotten a hold on the bazaar yet- the shopkeepers and merchants all too allied to overtake. Good, because Sett wasn't going to be making trouble in anyone else's territory. Bad because taking out the boss of the pits would give anyone the leg up they needed to make serious moves in the bazaar. And the cover of night always offered a perfect opportunity for Sett to get jumped.

Again .

Only this time with an audience.

All they had to do was get in and get out though, and as they neared Caz's Antiquities, Sett murmured to Aphelios. "Hang back a 'lil, Phel. Caz spooks easy." 

Aphelios nodded and practically disappeared into the shadows as Sett sauntered towards the incredibly sweaty shopkeeper. Caz always smelled a little sour- a mix of fear and sweat and cheap Ionian perfume. The stench of it had Sett's nose tickling again and it was tough to hold in his sneezes- or avoid scrunching up his nose. Whatever Aphelios used on him was becoming a pain in the ass.

"Caz, buddy," Sett grinned, sharp teeth on full display, relishing the way it made the merchant cower. "You got anythin' special in?" Sett lazily tossed a bag of the night's winnings on the counter, landing with a hefty thud. "Maybe another one of those Demacian shoulder things? What'd'ya call 'em? Pauldrons! They make great footstools." Caz nodded furiously, like a bobber. "Or somethin' real shiny. Like a sword, or maybe jewelry. Momma's birthday is comin' up, ya know."

"Mr. Sett! I heard about your win! So good to see you," Caz, the bastard, couldn't take his eyes off the coin purse. "You know I always have the most high quality items, especially for my elite clientele."

Sett nodded, leaning on the counter and enjoying the creak of the wood. "How 'bout more of them Aspect armaments?" Caz immediately balked. "Where didja say you got 'em again?"

"I knew you'd come sniffing around here after that fight with the Lunari," Caz hissed, potential coin forgotten. If he were any more rat-like he'd be squeaking up a storm right now. "You and the Solari both, though you just missed each other."

Sett's ears perked, "the Solari were here?"

"They bought something special just for you, for whenever you decided to visit," he continued, hefting a cloth covered shape onto the counter. "They said something dramatic about 'showing you the error of your ways'. You're nothing but trouble, swear to the gods."

Sett watched as Caz removed the cloth from the shape, blood beginning to simmer in his veins and magic flaring. A stuffed and mounted wolf head stared up at him. Wrong animal, for the most part, but the message was loud and clear.

Sett slid his eyes up, back to Caz's sweaty face and drawled, growl barely hidden, "you know I'm gonna rip that tongue of yours out 'n feed it to you, right?"

"If the Solari don't get you first," Caz sneered.

A subtle shifting scent in the air, different than anything before, hit Sett and he instinctively ducked right as an arrow breezed by. He might've easily missed it at any other time- and would've gotten an arrow in the shoulder for his troubles. Looked like that poison had its upsides too. Caz completely forgotten, Sett whirled around with a snarl as a group of about four heavily armored and very shiny warriors flooded into the street. Two archers looked down from the roof above, one dropping down to join the warriors. Aphelios remained unseen. Given all the gold and sun motifs, Sett could only assume these were the Solari.

"Where is the Lunari?" The archer asked imperiously. "We know he approached you earlier."

"Seems to be a lot of you approaching me lately."

"No need to protect him," she continued, glancing about as if to spot Aphelios amongst the emptied stalls. "He's a murderer. An assassin. If you hadn't indulged him he would have slain you without mercy and taken his prize."

"And I'm assumin' you aren't here to do the same? Fuck off."

"We can do this like civil people. We require only the Lunari and the headpiece of the Sun. Then we'll be on our way. You'll be rewarded handsomely and be blessed for your good deeds." She smirked, looking down on him despite how he towered, "or, we slay you and retrieve both ourselves."

Sett glanced to the mounted head and then back, simpering, "you got a weird sense of civility. Must've left your manners back home. Besides," he let a throaty growl rip free, "I'd like to see you try takin' me down."

The woman sneered, and two of her warriors ran forward, gold and spiky armor noisy in the night. Sett relished the fact that they had to wait around at Caz's gross-smelling stall for him and Aphelios to show up. Who, speak of the 'lil moon-devil, had reappeared and stabbed a blade into the kidney of the archer on the roof. Sett shot him a toothy grin before ducking forward and grabbing both attacking warriors and slamming them together with a satisfying crunch of metal. 

It had been a hot minute since Sett's last back-alley brawl, and he relished the change in scenery. It was vastly different from a pit-fight. For one, he could grab some random, incredibly ornate pitcher from Caz's stall and smash it against some dumbass Solari's head, or bodily toss someone into a solid wooden counter. But the close quarters grated- Sett took up a lot of space, which was at a bit of a premium, especially as the Solari began to pile up underfoot. It was enough to have Sett stumbling back into some day-merchants pavilion. Ripping the tent and leaving him wide open for a Solari arrow-

Blocked at the last minute by Aphelios jumping in front of him and twisting the arrow to the side with the edge of a very luminescent looking rifle. The arrowhead still caught the edge of his forearm, splattering blood on the dusty tiles. It was a very nice gesture, people didn't take hits for Sett, most people actually preferred him to get hit. He immediately assumed Aphelios was just getting a headstart on paying him back for all the fuss his religious quest was causing. Sett returned the favor by cracking the necks of the remaining Solari warriors and punching the archer lady in the face.

"He'll betray you, beast-man," she spat around the blood pooling in her mouth. "His kind know only death and destruction."

"Sounds like me 'n him will get along just fine," Sett replied before finishing her off.

At the sounds of the scuffle dying out, Caz went from a silent creep from behind his stall to running full speed. Before Sett could chase, Aphelios aimed the shiny- but now hazy- rifle and fired a shot of pure white into Caz's leg. The man fell like a sack of potatoes and the rifle disappeared into little wisps of light.

"Nice shot, moonboy," Sett grinned, making his way to the screaming merchant.

"It wasn't my idea, I swear," Caz blubbered. "Please, they were gonna kill me too."

"Hey, hey, of course it wasn't your idea, pal," Sett knelt down, baring his teeth a little. "We both know you don't have the guts for stunts." He clapped a hand on Caz's shoulder, leaning in to make him sweat a 'lil harder. "How much they pay you?"

"Four- four hundred to bait you," Caz replied.

Sett raised an eyebrow. "Wait, seriously? That's chump change." But not surprising. Caz would sell his soul for a Noxian half-coin in a heartbeat. He was distracted by a sudden and worryingly wet cough from Aphelios- he apparently needed to wrap this up. Plus Caz's sweat was getting tacky and gross. "Where'd you get the Aspect things?"

"All over Ionia, but there was some newer stuff, near the old Sky temple. There was a whole trail of it leading there, and then towards the oracle's mountain," Caz sniveled. Then he had the gall to ask, "there's, uh, no hard feelings right? Water under the bridge?"

Sett shot him an unimpressed look before leveling a fist right into his nose. He went at it a few more times, until Caz wasn't likely to sell anything or anyone out again, just for good measure and until Aphelios coughed again, only this time with force- like something was clawing at his throat. 

"Phel? What's-" Aphelios doubled over before Sett got there, practically heaving, until finally throwing up something black and tar-like. The splatter of it had Sett feeling a secondhand sick and dully he noted that this was the most animated-  the most natural he'd seen the guy so far. Which was incredibly sad.

Aphelios wordlessly lifted his arm, showing off the wound from earlier. The edges of the gash were golden, almost burning yellow and red. Poisoned? Whatever it was, it had Aphelios doubled over.

"Shit moonboy," Sett rubbed a hand over Aphelios' back, like his Momma would when he caught a stomach bug, and mentally calculated the closest healer. "We gotta get you an antidote-"

"Sett," a whisper-quiet rasp interrupted, just barely audible and more slurred than spoken.

It came from Aphelios.  

Sett stared dumbly for a moment, gawking as his formerly mute companion grasped his arm. "Not poison," he continued, as if that clarified things. He sounded as if he had to scrape each syllable from the back of his throat and release it on separate breaths. "Solari antitoxin."

"You could talk this whole time?" Sett growled.

Somehow Aphelios managed to look huffy while wiping black tar stuff from his lips. He raised an eyebrow as if to say ' seriously? That's what you are caught up on?'

"Wait," Sett paused, Aphelios' words finally registering. "You got hit by an antidote? They just coat their weapons in medicine?"

"Only works on me," he whispered, then coughed until he wheezed.

But that would mean- Sett glanced at the black tar and balked, "you drank poison?" A nod. A cough. "Shit- why- buddy, we really gotta get you to a healer-"

Aphelios practically gaped at him, as if Sett were the weird one. "Explain later?" He rasped. It had to be painful to talk, just hearing him made Sett's throat ache, but he still managed to croak out a quiet "are you alright?"

Sett stared at him disbelievingly. "I'm not the one who poisoned himself here-" Aphelios shook his head and pointed to the fallen taxidermy from earlier. Oh, that. He'd forgotten about it in the scuffle, and now that he'd murdered everyone involved in the slight, he honestly felt pretty neutral about it. "I've had way worse," Aphelios didn't look reassured at all, "that was nothing compared to other stuff, really," in fact he looked even more concerned, in his own blank way. "Besides, doubt anyone's gonna try it again anytime soon." 

Aphelios' lips twitched into what could almost be a frown, but he didn't say anything else. Suddenly desperate to change the subject, Sett went back to the task at hand. Nothing was more distracting and all-encompassing as work. "Caz said he got the shit from a temple not far from here. We'll get there around sunrise tomorrow if we hurry. You good to go?" Aphelios nodded, somehow looking healthier than he had before getting arrowed. "Great. We gotta make one stop first, then you can explain some shit to me."

Aphelios nodded again, swallowing thickly before squeezing Sett's wrist. "I wouldn't." At Sett's confused look, he managed to add, all mumbled and scratchy, the words practically blurring, "wouldn't kill… for it."

Huh?

Wait-

Oh- oh , what that Solari archer was saying earlier. "I mean, I get why you would-" Shit, Sett certainly would-

Aphelios' lips twisted. "There was no need," he managed, somehow making his thin voice forceful. Puking out that poison sure made him a helluva lot more emotive and talkative. Sett almost felt bad for killing that Solari bitch before thanking her, but then again… Aphelios was beginning to make him feel a little weird about shit- gods help him if Aphelios took another hit for him anytime soon.

Sett… didn't really know what to say to that though. Aphelios didn't seem to mind his stunned silence and gave his wrist another gentle squeeze before they wordlessly made their way out of the market and towards a certain cottage.

Sett carefully opened the door to his Momma's house despite knowing he was going to wake her in a moment anyway. He felt bad for it regardless, always did when he stopped by late, and more so at the thought of telling his momma he wouldn't be in for breakfast and likely dinner tomorrow. But the thought of her not knowing, worrying about where he was- that was far worse. To his surprise, he wasn't greeted by a dark house. 

Instead, he was greeted by a warm, "Settrigh! There you are."

It was late for her to be up- until he remembered, "the weekly coin purse." All the hubbub with Aphelios and the Solari had slipped it from his mind. She had to be worried sick. "Sorry momma, I got caught up with work and-"

"Oh, Settrigh, who is your friend?" She asked, spotting Aphelios practically hidden behind his bulky frame. "Someone from the construction company?"

"Uh, yeah, this is Aphelios," Sett moved to let Aphelios give a little wave. "I'm gonna be building him a uh. A shrine, up north." Aphelios shot him a curious look but nodded. "It's why I stopped by. Gonna be gone for a day or two buildin' it."

"Oh, how wonderful of you," she smiled, reaching up on the tips of her clawed toes to cup his cheeks and press a kiss to his forehead. He may have leant down a bit to help. "Such a kind hearted boy." Before he could escape, his mother gasped and grabbed his arm. "You've been hurt! Settrigh, what happened?"

"This? I had to go through the bazaar to get uh. Shrine shingles. For the shrine." He waved a free hand, "you know how the market is at night. It's gotten pretty dangerous, so don't go there after dark."

"How terrible," momma clapped a hand to her cheek. "I'll be sure to stay away around night-time then." Sett mumbled a 'thanks ma,' right as she hustled away, "let me at least patch you up before you head out. Oh! And maybe something to eat- have you had anything to eat? Some tea, for our guest, too-"

"Damn," Sett muttered, momma already long gone. "So much for a quick detour."

"What was that, Settrigh dear?" His mom called, her ears poking from around a doorway.

"Nothin', ma."

"It's nice," Aphelios whispered, a more noticeable smile on his face. His eyes crinkled up at the corners, as if making up for the slack of his muscles. "She worries." 

That reminded him- "you have a sister right? She dote on you like this?"

Aphelios shook his head, "she can't anymore."

Ominous, likely tragic, but there was no time to pry because his momma was back in a flurry of bandages and tea and a little plate of cookies. Surprisingly, she went for Aphelios first, handing him a warm cup and sweetly asking to see his wounds too. "My son didn't drag you into any trouble, did he?" 

"I dragged him into it," Aphelios replied after a sip, voice still scratchy but sounding slightly less pained. His words blended together at the ends, like he couldn't quite work his lips and tongue correctly. "He's helped me a great deal without pay." He stifled a ragged cough behind a gloved hand.

Sett nervously shuffled and gulped his tea as his momma inspected the Solari poison/medicine still coating Aphelios' wound. "Oh," she chuckled, "Settrigh does what his heart tells him, the sweet boy-" 

" Ma ," Sett groaned.

"He'll build you a wonderful shrine," she continued, ignoring her son. "Even if certain people may not appreciate it," she added with a conspiratorial wink. Aphelios and Sett shared a glance. "Your turn, Settrigh!"

It had been awhile since his momma had to patch him up after a fight- mostly because he desperately tried to hide that aspect of his life from her. It was his worst nightmare these days, her finding out what he did all the time, her thinking he would leave for better pits just like his pa. Her being disappointed in him. They were all each other had. He didn't want her to worry, or be scared for him, or worse- of him. So he waited around until he healed naturally, which was usually a pretty quick affair, or he used some pretty expensive medicine to speed things along. The hole left from Aphelios' blade was being stubborn though, and Sett winced at the way she tutted at it. Aphelios at least looked mildly apologetic.

"I'm sure you scared off those ruffians at the bazaar," more like murdered them and left them in a heap, "but do be careful, Settrigh. Try to talk things out, if you can." She smiled brightly at him, tapping the edge of the bandage with a claw. "Now you and your friend are ready to build that shrine!" 

"Thanks, ma. I'll be by as soon as it's done," Sett promised, taking a cookie and a travel flask of tea.

"It was good to meet you, Aphelios," his momma added. "Do visit again soon. Settrigh never brings any of his friends by." She practically giggled as her son pushed Aphelios out of the house.

They hadn't made it half a block from momma's house before Aphelios was whispering, "she knows I am a Lunari."

Given all this talk about how his people were hunted down and persecuted and such… "That a bad thing? Pretty sure she isn't a Solari if that's what's gotcha worried."

Aphelios shook his head, lips quirked in that barely there smile. "She made moonblossom tea."

"Oh. Well that's good then." So he supposed. Sett could never tell the difference between tea blends since he always drank it too fast. He also didn't really get the significance. After all, it was all just leaf juice.

"Just unusual," Aphelios continued. "We aren't known." He paused, rasped, "I should…" coughed, rubbed his throat, and reached into his jacket and slipped out a sheaf of folded up paper and an ornate looking pen. He must've raided a drawer in Sett's office or home while he wasn't looking- the sneaky but pragmatic bastard. ' I owe you explanations. You deserve the honesty .'

"I mean, if it's not safe or whatever," Sett countered, "you don't gotta tell me anything. 'Cept maybe why you drank poison. That's pretty fuckin' weird." Aphelios chuckled- or something close. It mostly just sounded like stuttered breaths. 

' It's the essence of noctum flower. It turns me into a spiritual conduit so I can speak to my sister, Alune. She's ,' he faltered, throat clicking as he swallowed and his pen stuttered against the paper. Despite whatever inner turmoil he was embroiled in, his face barely twitched. He inhaled sharply before speaking, explaining, "she's in the spirit realm. She has foresight and gifts me weapons. But the poison leaves me… mute, numb. I am hollowed." He coughed, voice tapering into barely more than a wispy sigh. The poison that had frozen his face and stiffened his tongue was beginning to thaw, but only by the barest increments. His voice and throat were wrecked, it was as if he'd swallowed glass.

"So the only time you can speak with her is when you drink poison?" Sett couldn't imagine being separated in such a way from his momma. But… "I'd willingly drink poison too, if it was the only way I could be with my momma."

Aphelios nodded. "I gladly trade my voice for hers." He rubbed at his throat, glancing apologetically at Sett. "Will you talk?" Speaking was clearly taking a toll on him.

Sett understood well enough, but "there ain't much to talk about. I'm a simple enough guy." At Aphelios' disbelieving look, he relented. "Fine. You get my story, since I'm gettin' yours soon enough. Right?" Aphelios nodded.

So he spoke of his faintly remembered father, his loving mother, how he chased after his absent father into the pits. The first time he fought, the first time he killed, the first bag of coin in his hands. He'd been on the outside his whole life. Too Vastayan for humans, too human for the Vastaya. He'd never belonged until he'd scraped out his own place in the world, spilling his blood and breaking jaws to get it, and even then he wasn't exactly welcome. 

They had left the city borders far behind, and Sett had blabbered on the entire time. He didn't usually talk about himself to anyone, never had anyone even remotely interested in him past finding out what he could do for them, and… well it'd been bottled up for awhile. Aphelios had made all these little noises of interest, and coughed a few words out when he wanted to know more or get clarification, and hadn't asked him for anything except if he'd prefer being called 'Settrigh' instead. 

Shit , he was making a friend.

In this incredibly dangerous assassin from an isolated religious sect with a personal body count that definitely surpassed his own.

"Been fightin' since I was a kit. Think it's all I can do now," Sett admitted.

Aphelios nodded, 'ever since I could hold a blade, I've been taught to fight and kill. All I'll ever be is a weapon for my people, a tool to be used. My sister helps but… ' He hesitantly asked, voice a croak, "do you like fighting?"

It was a weird feeling, wanting to be open to someone. But Aphelios hadn't judged him yet, hadn't looked at him weird, hadn't said anything shitty. When he'd snapped something about being considered less than human, Aphelios had simply nodded and agreed. ' Most days I could hardly be considered human too .' Fuck this guy for being so polite and understanding and similar . 

The worst part was how he acted completely different than any of the other humans he ever interacted with. Most of them became sycophants as soon as they caught a whiff of Sett's fame and fortune, but Aphelios seemed physically incapable of sucking up to him. Hell, the guy even rolled his eyes at him. Twice. Other, stupider humans would try to out-do him. Challenge him to a fight, start boasting, try to put the half-beast in his place. Aphelios listened to him list his accomplishments, shyly admitting only a few of his own when Sett asked. Anytime he started trailing off, Aphelios would either quietly prod him for more or slip a little bit of information about Lunari customs, Alune, or life on Mount Targon, as if it were a trade. 

Sett had no idea what to do with the guy. But...

They were two pariahs who grew up with blood on their hands, with only their own tiny families there to keep them from sinking. Sett wanted to hit something.

"I do," which was true. He loved fighting. "I like it most on my own terms."

Aphelios hummed. ' I liked fighting you .' At Sett's raised eyebrow he added, ' I was not fighting as a Lunari weapon. I faced you as myself. I'd like to do it again someday .'

"Long as you keep that pink stuff outta it next time," Sett grinned, chuckling, deflecting from the excitement of a prospective rematch. "You really think I'd talk to you outside my pit though? I'm a busy man, you know." 

' You have an office ,' Aphelios shrugged. ' That's where I thought to go at first .' 

Sett's shitty Vastayan hospitality would've been harder to ignore then. "Well, I'm glad you didn't," he grumbled. "If we're bein' honest with each other 'n all, I was lookin' for somethin' new and different. That fight ticked a lotta my boxes. This whole thing has."

"You're happy?" Aphelios rasped incredulously before coughing for a minute or two. ' I dragged you into a centuries long religious dispute. The Solari will be hunting you for decades because you've spoken to me .'

They would? That was kinda shitty. "You never did tell me their deal. Is the moon evil or somethin'?"

Aphelios shot him a look of patient amusement. ' It will take time to write out. And I do not wish to waste a moment of lucidity on history lessons ." At Sett's curious frown he elaborated quietly, "I haven't spoken in nearly four years."

"You drink that noctum sh- stuff that often?" Sett felt sick. He felt pissed .

A nod, 'I've needed to search for Diana, the Aspect of the Moon, and defend my people against the Solari. I've gone longer without words before .' A cough, a rasped but firm whisper, "a small price to keep our culture and people safe."

Gods, "how long you been doin' this?"

"A decade."

Years of drinking poison, separated from his sister, only able to speak to her when he was a husk of a person. What kind of damage would that do to him? Sett remembered how Aphelios described the whiskey from earlier and wondered just how much of the world was dulled or twisted for him. How much he couldn't experience, how much he couldn't feel. It was the worst kind of prison he could imagine. And all because some assholes thought the sun was better than the moon. They were both just things in the sky as far as Sett was concerned- nothing to kill over.

' I hadn't drunk it for a few days. Before our meeting, so I could ,' Aphelios hesitated before his hand faltered altogether. Sett could fill in the gaps. "It's-" a cough, "I cannot linger like this. I need to drink the noctum again soon."

Sett choked down a growl before it could rip it's way from his throat and embarrass him. It was a random chance that he got to experience this authentic version of Aphelios instead of the ghost of a man he fought in the pit. He'd already gotten a whole three hours of conversation with a man who hadn't spoken in years . He should be thankful for that and let Aphelios do his thing. He probably wanted to speak with his sister, get his fancy moon weapons. It probably felt weird to feel after so long not feeling anything. Shit- Aphelios was probably dependent on the noctum at this point if he'd drunk it every day for decades. Even now, after days of being off it, the effects seemed to linger. How messed up had it left him? How much was it holding him together? 

But Sett was selfish.

He didn't want Aphelios to go back to being numb and distant and quiet. Not when he was starting to get smiles and laughs from someone who wasn't interested in him for wealth and fame. Sure, Aphelios wanted something he had, but when Sett asked after it he shook his head. ' I wish to pay you for it properly. You've done nothing but help. It's the least I can do. ' Aphelios, while hardly much for conversation, was still fine company- the finest he'd ever had.

He'd admit, the bar was awfully low.

Point was, Sett couldn't stand losing, especially not something he liked. 

"I guess if you really gotta, I get it," Sett grumbled, already thinking of a way to delay the inevitable. "But," it was his turn to falter. "Does it gotta be now? I mean, just in case I still got questions 'n shit."

Aphelios glanced at him, lips quirking up, humoring his flimsy reason. 'It can wait until we find shelter for the day.'  

"There's an inn off the road outside Navori. Should be easy to get a room. Might get some raised eyebrows though."

' I understand it's unusual ,' Aphelios replied as way of apology. 

Sett waved a hand, "nah, I get it." It'd be pretty weird if a moon-worshiper only operated when the sun was out. "You sleep during the day." Sett grinned and flung an arm over Aphelios' shoulder. He enjoyed how the other man didn't even flinch. His lips just twitched upwards, eyes flickering with interested anticipation, like Sett's next move or words were an exciting mystery. Most people regarded him warily, like he was a loose canon, always cowering and suspicious of the feral half-beast. Aphelios did nothing he expected. "I do too. After breakfast with my momma I usually end up nappin' in my office for most of the day. Long as I don't have much paperwork, at least." Sett babbled on as they walked, Aphelios nodding and making interested little hums all the way, interjecting a few whispered anecdotes and breathy tidbits in between gradually filled sheaves of paper.

The path towards the sky temple was pretty straightforward and well traveled, with a little crossroads town and hot springs further down the road and several branches off it that led to more of the myriad of temples and shrines littering the Ionian countryside. The sky temple itself was an imposing tower that spiraled up into the clouds, an easy landmark to find in the dim night. It wasn't even dawn by the time they reached the unkempt gardens outside its open doors. Sett had only been here once, during a day trip with his momma and only under the warm sunlight. They'd stopped to eat lunch on the steps outside, talking in low tones despite the place being uninhabited. He'd liked the way the stone of the walls had swirled upwards, like it was being sucked up into the sky, and the way the ivy creeped up and crumbled the rock.

The place looked vastly different from his hazy memories, nearly two decades later and bathed in moonlight. Not only did it look unearthly and somewhat eerie in the darklight, it had also been recently visited- or attacked, judging from the deep gauges and burn marks in the wood and stone. Sett ran his fingertips over a wide cut in the imposing wall, tanned skin coming back black with soot. The whole place smelled of dust and singed hair and cloth and something else. Sett sniffed curiously, following his nose into the dark, Aphelios wandering after him. 

"Dunno what I'm lookin' for," he admitted, glancing about the room and seeing nothing but rubble, "but it smells familiar." He'd never been inside the temple, and shifted uneasily on his feet, feeling like an intruder despite his general irreverence. The sky temple didn't have much in the way of lighting, just some windows far above with the scant moonlight blocked by gigantic chimes and spiraling stairs, but Aphelios stepped confidently in the gloom.

After a bit of sifting, Aphelios lifted up something that flashed gold when dusted off. "Armaments from the Aspect of the Sun," he rasped. It was a bracer, warped from where something sharp caught it. It wasn't long before he stooped to pick up another something, "moonstone." It was a perfectly circular disc, charred on one edge. It looked like part of a pendant, maybe. 

"They must be fighting with each other and losin' clothes along the way. Definitely not weird. Why would they make a stop here though?"

Aphelios pointed to the walls. Every surface was covered in tiny mosaic tiles of different colors, depicting all sorts of images. Giant blue birds and what was probably snow and ice, golden stretches with tall shapes rising up, on and on. They climbed the stairs, trying to find anything relevant. The shapes grew weirder and more abstract until they reached a little tile sun next to a little tile moon. Surrounding them on all sides were strange creatures, and people worshipping them, wearing silver and gold. The little lines of light radiating from both merged and combined and- oh, "oh shit ," Sett mumbled.

He was far from being a learned man, but even an Ionian crime lord with no formal education could put two and two together. The Solari and Lunari had been one and the same. The gravity of it was lost on Sett- he was too far removed from the long standing squabbles on Mount Targon. But Aphelios…

He stared, eyes flickering from edge to edge, tracing each line as if committing it to memory. Maybe he was, to dissect later under the numbness of the noctum, his sister whispering reasons in his ear. Only when dawn began peeking through the window, illuminating the mosaic and making it shine like it were under a spotlight, did he move. Aphelios shuffled back into a shadow, shielding his eyes from the light, a grim sort of acceptance tugging the usual neutrality of his face and his jaw set. It had to be earth-shattering, finding out the people who hunted you down may have been your people at one point. 

"Let's get goin' moonboy," Sett tapped at Aphelios' elbow. "We can think on it over dinner." 

Aphelios nodded but didn't say anything. His eyes lingered over the mosaic until it was out of sight.

The crossroads village was bustling with morning activities by the time they wandered into the main square. It did nothing to help them blend in. Aphelios stood out with his foreign clothing and Sett was generally a one-of-a-kind specimen. Any villagers out and about collectively stopped and stared at them for a long moment before hurriedly rushing back to whatever they were doing with feigned indifference. 

Whatever. They were just here to eat and sleep.

"Gonna talk to a barkeep, maybe get a drink or two." Sett glanced around until he spotted a tavern. "See if anyone saw some shiny assholes come by."

Aphelios chuckled, nodded, pointed to a bulletin board covered in bounty posters, news, and advertisements. ' We should share a room, in case the Solari attack. I will join you soon .'

It sounded fair enough, and Sett didn't think much of it as he went into the seedy tavern, relishing the smell and atmosphere of the painfully generic bar. There was a ripe mix of hungover patrons, day drinkers, and refuse from the night before splattered throughout the dingy room. There was also a hint of something else buried under all the spilled alcohol and aged vomit. But what was it?

Sett chatted amiably with the barkeep while he tried to place the scent, slipping him a few extra coins whenever he realized what he was talking to and began to clam up. Sett was still mulling the mysterious scent when he turned around and felt his blood run cold. 

Through the grimy window he saw Aphelios standing in front of the bounty posters on the bulletin board, talking to two people who were obviously bounty hunters. One held up a giant coin purse, jabbing a thumb backwards at the tavern. The other held up a paper. Sett turned around before he saw the rest of the exchange. He didn't need to look to know it was his face on there. That coin purse was at least triple the size of Aphelios'. He'd be stupid not to take those hunters up on their request. Those two wouldn't stand a chance against Sett, but with Aphelios behind them? Sett might be in trouble.

He hated how his stomach twisted. It was hardly the first time someone got friendly only to stab a knife in his back later, both literally and metaphorically. 

Sett tossed back his drink and fumed, glaring sullenly at the glass he'd bought for his companion before downing it too. The two bounty hunters from before sauntered in not long after, smacking the door loudly against the wall as they did. Aphelios hadn't followed, but that didn't mean he wasn't nearby, ready to strike. Whatever, he'd wait for the hunters to make their move and for the betrayal that came with it. 

He just wished he hadn't gotten attached first. 

"Beast-man Sett," the first hunter called out, "boss of the Navori pits. Ionia offers a fine price for your head."

"Yeah?" Sett replied, not bothering to look. The barman goggled between him and the hunters. "What'm I up to now?"

"Quarter million." That got more than a few patrons to perk up, eyeing Sett with interest. He paid that much just to keep his wanted posters out of Navori.

"But maybe more if we sell your parts too," the other hunter added, a sneering smile no doubt plastered all over his face. 

Sett bristled. Growled. Magic curled around his fists and the bar dissolved under his hands. Like with back alley brawls, Sett hadn't had a good bar fight in ages. He used to get into at least one a week during the height of his pit fighting days, filled to the brim with adrenaline and anger and alcohol and good ole fashioned self-loathing. He still had a lot of… well, all of the above, but it was kept at a low simmer most of the time. Right now though, with betrayal crawling down his spine and insults rattling his skull? Sett's pot had boiled over.

He smashed an entire table over hunter number two's head.

Some of the patrons joined the fray, eager for a chance to claim Sett's bounty, and like with the back alley brawl not even half a day ago, space became tight. Sett was no stranger to fighting several people at once, but it was still tiring to be conscious of space and a potential assassin lurking in the shadows. Some asshole got a lucky strike in with a left hook and another smashed a bottle against his head, but it was hardly enough to turn the tide. Not until all of the bar patrons were out of the fray and hunter number one shot a bolo at him. 

The rope of it wrapped tight around his leg and the weights definitely would leave some nasty bruises, but that wasn't what brought him to the ground. No, that would've been thanks to the electrical charge coursing through his muscles and causing them to seize up. Sett crashed like a heap into a couple of overturned chairs, gritting his teeth against the painful shocks. Stupid fucking Piltovan shit-

Hunter one shouted out with pain, gurgling like he got stabbed. Sett twitched open an eye, magic flaring as the shock wore off, growling up at…

Aphelios, standing above him, face casually blank. 

He offered a hand, the black glove shiny with blood. "Are you alright?" He croaked, frayed voice strained with concern.

Sett stared at him dumbly. He took Aphelios' slick, bloody hand, stomach whooshing as he was hauled up.

"You aren't with them?"

Aphelios shook his head, 'they offered me money. I said no .'

He couldn't believe it. "But the bounty board-"

Lips quirked in that barely there smile, Aphelios reached into his jacket, pulled out a folded up paper and held it up. A fairly well done portrait of the Lunari looked back at Sett. His bounty was far, far less than Sett's but "you have a wanted poster."

"The Solari," Aphelios nodded. He glanced around the destroyed bar and frowned, obviously concerned about room and board. It would've been cute if he hadn't just assumed they'd be staying in a trash heap (even before the brawl). 

"Don't even think about it. We aren't stayin' here," Sett scrunched his nose. He was beyond tavern boarding and whatever they served that could pass as food. "I came in for drinks and gossip. No, we're goin' to the springs inn down the road."

The inn in question was built above a natural hot spring, and while modest, it was still rather luxurious. It was leagues away from some tavern board house and catered predominantly to the wealthy upper crust of Navori and any passing travelers with coin to spare. Sett didn't mind the expense as he eagerly munched on a handful of buttered shrimp locally sourced from the hot spring waters and other exclusive delicacies. Better than the food and drink and warm bath and cozy bed was Aphelios and his loyalty. He hadn't taken the money. Hadn't been lured by the bounty. He'd helped him fight. He took hits for him and apologized and listened and-

Sett felt spoiled. 

"Eat up, Phel," Sett encouraged, pushing a wide platter of steaming meats and vegetables the Lunari's way. Ravenous as always, Sett had ordered practically everything on the menu and had single handedly demolished most of it while he talked. "Ain't seen you eat anythin' and we've done nothin' but walk and fight."

Aphelios, meanwhile, had barely eaten anything. "I apologize," he replied sheepishly. ' My sense of taste has not yet returned ,' he wrote. He still attempted a few more bites, laughing and smiling at whatever nonsense Sett prattled on about in between, and Sett reveled in it. He didn't miss the way Aphelios gravitated towards softer foods.

The brief reference to the noctum had Sett's mood souring, if only a little. All the more reason to fix whatever shit was going on with the Lunari and Solari. Then he could lavish Aphelios with all the fine food and luxurious surroundings he could handle. That's what you did with friends, right? It's certainly what Sett wanted to do, and he never made a habit out of doing things he didn't want to do.

Aphelios hadn't turned on him. The novelty of it made Sett feel all floaty. Aphelios maybe even liked him as a person. It was such a wild concept it had his head spinning if he dwelled on it.

Of course he wasn't floaty enough to relax fully around Aphelios where the hot springs were involved (he'd never forgive himself if he scared the guy off), but enough to where he was content enough to lounge on one of the inset beds instead of kicking up a fuss as Aphelios broke out a little glass bottle full of what he could only assume were petals from the noctum flowers. They smelled incredible from a distance, like a mixture of sugary sweet fruit and crisp night air, colored a deep twilit purple. They looked as though they had been dried out, and Aphelios placed a few withered buds into a drinking saucer filled with water as he removed a wide and flat mortar and pestle from his travel bag.

"It's strange but nice," Aphelios whispered. Sett's ears swiveled towards the faint sound embarrassingly fast. "I've always done this alone."

"If havin' an audience isn't allowed or anythin' I could give you some space," he offered only semi-reluctantly. 

Aphelios shook his head. "I'd prefer you to stay, although… I can't say it will be pleasant to witness." Almost shyly he added, voice catching, "it will be nice to have a friend with me." It was hardly more than a murmur, slurred and scratched out over several pained minutes. It was the best thing Sett had heard in a long time.

"I'll stay then," Sett promised. 

The smile he got in return, small and hidden as it was, had Sett practically purring with delight. The noctum flowers broke easily under the pestle in Aphelios' shaking fingers. Whether it was from withdrawal, the promise of a fix, fear, nervousness, pain- Sett couldn't tell. Despite the clearly agonizing effort it took, Aphelios kept speaking. "It feels like a gift. Maybe a reward. I will lose this too, soon. I've only had Alune, and then she was... I could not follow. But, now… There is you. It has been-" 

"It's been great," Sett finished, happy when Aphelios nodded in agreement. "You won't lose me so easily though."

Sett didn't have friends. He could barely even claim to have colleagues. He had his momma, his business, and himself. But now he'd nestled Aphelios in there somewhere in the last twenty four hours. It felt nice. Absently he wondered if he was maybe Aphelios' first friend as well.

"With the noctum… I will not… act, how I do now. I'll be less, I won't feel , I won't… remember some things." Sett had never hated a plant so much. "I won't be a very good friend," Aphelios admitted. His already whisper quiet voice rendered inaudible from the strain of ruined vocal cords, numbed lips and tongue, and disuse. Inaudible to anyone but Sett, at least. "But-"

"You gotta drink it," Sett nodded, "I get it. It's important. You gotta talk with your sister and save your people." He tried for a more reassuring smile, "I'll still be here. We got business to finish. I never leave a deal undone."

Aphelios' throat bobbed as he swallowed, head ducking low, "thank you, for everything." Sett hated that it sounded like a goodbye.

Maybe it was.

Instead of slapping the bowl of crushed noctum flowers from Aphelios' hands, Sett wound his fingers into silky sheets, tearing the delicate fabric. Aphelios hesitated, closed his eyes, downed the poison, and shook. The effect seemed instantaneous- the bowl fell to the ground as Aphelios choked, breath raspy and uneven as a silent scream tore across his features, gloved fingers scrabbling at his throat. It lasted barely a minute and then Aphelios seemed to settle, a momentary blip of bliss washing over his face until impassivity took its place and left him blank, breathing hard, shaking, sweating, with flooding tears running down his cheeks. To Sett, it might as well have been a lifetime watching Aphelios' face twist in pain and the light spark then dull in his eyes. Sett had never hated anything so much. 

With the noctum fresh in his system, the blue shape of who must be Alune was far more tangible to Sett's Vastayan sight, even though he had to squint. Her ghostly fingers brushed Aphelios' cheeks, but did nothing, her voice whisper-quiet, meant only for her brother's ears (though Sett did strain to piece the words out). The Lunari didn't even react, simply sat, staring idly at his hands- probably catching her up to speed on what she missed out on. The tears falling from his face left little damp spots on his collar.

Sett stood, padded over and knelt in front of him. Slowly, with more care than he usually applied to things, he wiped the tears away with his thumbs. Aphelios regarded him blankly, face smooth and eyes distant, a far cry from the man he fought in the pit and a mere shadow of the man he laughed with over dinner. He had mentioned how he was hollowed by the noctum, but this was… it felt like an understatement. And he spent almost all his time like this? Alune wrapped a hand around Sett's wrist, squeezing but with no pressure, an ephemeral mirror to how her brother tried to comfort him. 

Sett sat back on the bed, watching as Aphelios settled onto his own mattress and seemingly meditated for a while. Sleep was a way off, unattainable, especially when he had scheming to do and whispering spirits to eavesdrop on. Whatever it took to get Aphelios to stick around. To no longer need the noctum. He was a selfish and greedy guy, after all, and the company was nice, far nicer than anyone from his business.

He still ended up falling asleep, waking up only when he heard Aphelios shuffling around. His ears twitched, and groggily he tried to place the sound as a now familiar but unplaceable scent wafted his way. A muffled hiss of pain sent him bolting upright and bounding Aphelios' way before his eyes were even open. A flash of gold armor- a Solari assassin, just as his Lunari companion predicted. And also the source of that smell he'd noticed back at the temple and tavern. Sett leveled a solid haymaker into the bastard's nose, sending him sprawling.

That out of the way, he quickly took stock of the situation. There had been two Solari, and Aphelios had taken out one, a glowing sickle blade thing sticking out of the corpse's back, but evidently he had been knocked prone by the second, and then was saved by Sett. Who now had a lovely gash from an errant flailing knife across his bicep. He hadn't noticed. Aphelios at least looked mostly unharmed, just a new cut across his palm that left bloody handprints everywhere (and that he also didn't seem to notice). The fight must've just started. He'd need to pay extra to the inn for cleanup.

Sett snarled as the Solari stood and spat blood around his broken nose. He was missing a few teeth. "No need to get involved, half-beast."

"Yeah? Too bad I like breakin' necks so much," he replied, "keep 'em comin'."

The Solari shouted and swung wide with his knife- like a complete amateur. Assassinations must be a Lunari speciality. Sett ducked out of the way, popping up with a bone-crunching uppercut to the man's jaw, sending him stumbling back. Aphelios didn't waste any time, a red and sharp looking tooth thing springing into his hand and firing something into the man's neck, slicing it and sending blood spraying everywhere. Sett was not looking forward to the bill.

He also needed another bath. Blood was a hassle to clean if it dried in his fur.

"You weren't kidding," Sett grumbled, wiping the blood off only to smear it more, "talk about persistent."

Aphelios regarded him distantly, reaching into his jacket and slipping out the sheaf of folded up paper and the pen. He only wrote only four words, but they sent Sett's stomach to the floor and set his blood boiling, ' you should stay behind .'

"Like hell I will," Sett growled. This may be a Lunari versus Solari sort of thing, but he was invested at this point damnit. Plus, with the way these Solari were coming... "You gotta be shittin' me-"

Another scrawl, ' you will only continue to be injured on my behalf .'

"So?" He huffed. "You really think you can do this by yourself? With no help? What happens when it's more than a couple Solari, huh? You gonna let it end there because you got spooked?" Sett stepped closer, looming over the Lunari- easy given the head and a half of height difference. Aphelios didn't even flinch, something he normally would have relished, but right now it just served to highlight the distance between them. "You forget I'm more durable than your average human. Hell, I'm a lot more durable than you. You gonna die and leave your sister all alone? You've seen how many bodies these Solari are gonna keep throwin' your way. You need me."

' You will be in greater danger- ' Sett didn't bother reading the rest. Instead, he plucked the pen from Aphelios' hands and snapped it in half, tossing the broken bits on top of the dead Solari. Aphelios, as numbed as his face and dulled as his emotions were, managed an annoyed eyebrow furrow.

"I'm coming with you." And as an afterthought he added, "after we wash off all this blood, I'll get you a new pen."

Sett had honestly expected Aphelios to put up more of a fight, or maybe run off as soon as Sett slipped away for a private bath, or when heading to the springs to wash up on his own. But remarkably, he stayed. As promised, Sett handed him a new pen, nabbed from the front desk while the innkeeper gawked at the ridiculous amount of coin and sweated at the mention of 'stain removal' costs.

' It is your decision and Alune says I must respect that ,' he immediately scrawled with no preamble. 

Sett chuckled, "and do you?"

' No. ' Stubborn. ' But we are thankful for the continued help. We will find a way to repay this debt .'

"Hey," Sett flung an arm around Aphelios' shoulders and squeezed, "what else are friends for?" He didn't know himself, doubted Aphelios knew, but it seemed right enough.

They had nearly spent half the day's light in the hot springs inn, the sun just past it's zenith as they left the crossroads and inn behind. It was a quieter trip than before, Aphelios no longer capable of sound, let alone words. It was as though the numbness had frozen him to the core- tightening his throat and stopping his heart. Sett was being followed by a ghost. Still, he couldn't manage to treat Aphelios differently, and went right back into his usual chatter. It had been nice getting smiles and looks of interest and hums of curiosity- genuine ones from someone who didn't have any inclination to suck up to him. He made do with Aphelios' constant staring, his attention fixed on the half-Vastayan. The shape of Alune popped in and out of his peripherals as they walked, always just out of sight. Sett was on the fence about his captive audience.

They were three quarters of the way up the Oracle's mountain, the sun just beginning to give way to twilight, when Aphelios suddenly stopped. Sett, midway through a story he'd overheard once about a mad yordle engineer who made a poro cannon, stopped with him. An odd look was scrunching the edges of Aphelios' face; incredulity maybe? Awe? It was impossible to tell now.

Aphelios reached for the pen and paper in his jacket, the first time he'd done so since leaving the inn, ' you made Alune laugh .'

"She liked my story, eh?" Sett preened, hiding his surprise. "I got plenty more where that came from."

' She has not laughed since I first drank the noctum ," the words were written, then scribbled out. It was only thanks to Sett's sharp vision that he caught the note before Aphelios put the pen and paper back into an inner pocket. Like a nice guy, Sett didn't bring it up. Instead he breezed into a story involving a secret sect of poros that could do martial arts. Just because he couldn't get reactions out of one sibling didn't mean he couldn't entertain the other.

It went on like that for the rest of the walk up the small mountainside. The path was still well worn from all the pilgrims and acolytes that had made the trek before the invasion, so it was hardly more strenuous than a leisurely hike. The disuse made the noticeably fresh bootprints stick out amongst the stones and low foliage, reassuring them that the information from Caz was likely good. There were multiple sets of prints though, far more than from just two Aspects chasing each other. Had the Solari beat them here? Wordlessly, Sett and Aphelios picked up the pace.

The temple was relatively small, as far as Ionian temples went, consisting of a dais, a rotunda and just a few offshoot rooms carved from the side of the mountain. It had been a refuge for some oracle and their followers, as far as Sett knew, and had been practically razed by Noxus. The structure would have been impressive when it was intact, all flowing well springs and arches and curving columns. In the present it just looked like a crumbling mess. The roof had collapsed, the arches and columns broken and toppled, ivy and long grass creeping between the stones. And yet, the flicker of torchlight shone from within, and the murmur of voices carried on the wind.

Silently, the two crept close to the ruined entryway and eavesdropped. 

"-isn't here, but can't have gone far."

"To leave our light in such a state," another voice said, "the lunar vermin will pay dearly."

"Was there any recovery of the holy armor?"

"Parts are missing, but many pieces are in the hands of the local Navori. They can be retrieved."

"The heretic though-"

"Perhaps she has gone to meet with the ghost?" There was a gasp.

"The weapon is here? We would be blessed to bring an end to both."

"Our sun shall meet them again soon enough. They will find no rest in Targon, not while she resides there."

While the Solari continued to jerk off to genocide, Sett mulled over what he'd gleaned. They'd just missed Diana, both Aphelios and the Solari, and maybe the Sun Aspect too. Then the Sun Aspect had gone back to Targon- which meant it would be pretty dangerous for either Lunari to head back there any time soon. They suspected both Diana and Aphelios (who he assumed was "the ghost" and "the weapon") of being in Ionia still though. Concerning too was the talk of retrieving the scattered armor. Given how unpleasant Sett's experience had been, it was likely going to cause serious trouble in Navori. He had mixed feelings about his home, but he was pretty much the boss of the town.

These assholes had to die, and they had to take their plans to the grave to keep the rest from finishing the job. Both to protect the Navori and the Lunari.

Aphelios tapped Sett's arm, passing over a note, readable only thanks to Sett's inhuman sight. ' There are seven Solari shieldbearers and three soldiers inside, possibly more. We will need to approach this carefully. '

"Couldn't agree more," Sett whispered. "I've got an idea or two. Can't say you might like 'em." Aphelios tilted his head, a wordless prompt to elaborate. "This temple is on it's last legs. We could probably drop a wall on 'em. I could probably do it easy enough, but we'd need a distraction. Second idea, we lure 'em out, a couple at a time. It'll be slower though, and pointless if they decide to all investigate at once." 

Aphelios hummed a quiet little noise before holding up one finger. "First plan it is then. We'll need to look around for the right spot."

Given the sheer amount of damage, it would be easy to find a spot to topple with a little Vastayan push, but it also made it incredibly difficult for Sett to sneak around. He was simply too large to hide behind what was left standing of the temple, and lacked the training on how to move quietly. He had to forgo helping Aphelios almost immediately. Not that Aphelios seemed to need it since he was whisper-quiet by default, easily weaving through the shadows like he was one. Sett watched him go with only mild jealousy. Eventually, and after a thorough inspection, Aphelios stopped by a column and mimed punching it to Sett. 

Message received, Sett slowly made his way over to his companion, wincing at every noise he produced. Aphelios, patient as a sage, watched his approach with a careful eye out for Solari interference.  Now they just needed a distraction. Aphelios pointed to himself, to a hole in the wall and mimed counting down. "On three then?" He nodded, summoning the glowy blueish green rifle from before and standing. 

Dutifully, Sett waited for the first note of alarm from the gathered Solari as he focused his magic into his fists. Three, he thought, as they called to arms. Two, as the shuffle of weapons being grasped and shouts for vengeance and battle rang through the temple. One, as the sound of footsteps grew closer- Sett sent the wall flying. Rubble rained down from above, catching most of the soldiers by surprise. Those who were quick enough raised their frankly ridiculously huge shields, blocking the debris. The unlucky ones were either quickly buried or knocked out. 

The ten Solari had been reduced to about five, with another two struggling their way out from under the stone and wood. It was certainly better than nothing, but not as effective as Sett had hoped. Aphelios began picking off the trapped Solari as Sett wasted no time dashing forward to get as many Solari as he could before they could catch their bearings or regroup. Easier said than done with the amount of heavy armor they wore and the massive shields they seemed to swing around with no issue.

Even with all his magic and strength, the Solari Shieldbearers were difficult to fight. Their armor was thick, and after knocking out just one , Sett's fists were starting to ache from the brute force that went into getting passed all the metal. No doubt without the destruction and Aphelios' covering fire, this would've been an even tougher, maybe impossible, fight. Sett had an eye for lopsided fights, after all. Still. One down, four more Shieldbearers to go.

He slammed two Solari together, he wound his magic into his fists and claws and bones, he sent bodies flying. He'd never fought alongside anyone before, not like this, but he and Aphelios seemed to complement each other in interesting ways, and it seemed easy as breathing to synergize attacks. But the Solari still picked themselves up after each hit, fighting on despite the dents and strange damage left from Aphelios' weapons. If they weren't also beating Sett to a pulp he would've been a bit more impressed. He wasn't one to cower back from a little rough housing though- in fact, the bite of pain made him hit back all the harder, fueled him like oil to a fire, made the adrenaline pump that much heavier. Sometimes he'd even hit a sweet spot, when the pain dropped entirely and he was left single-mindedly chasing a battle high. He hoped he'd get there soon. Then the open skin of his knuckles and the taste of copper and sweet scent of the noctum wouldn't be so distracting. He didn't get his wish, they wouldn't stay down, the metal of their gauntlets and armor and edges of their shields bit into his skin, pushing past the barrier of his Vastayan magic. Growing frustrated, Sett slammed a haggard Shieldbearer into the stone floor with enough impact to leave a crater. 

It was then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the remaining Solari turn their attention to Aphelios. 

Aphelios who was now sporting a few gashes and dark bruises himself, from Solari who slipped past and went for the assassin lurking in the shadows. He'd taken down quite a few, mostly those attempting to rejoin the fray, but evidently the usage of his weird and glowy weapons took a toll on him. Sett could hear his raspy panting breaths even over the din of combat, could smell his sweat, laced with sweet poison. The Solari Sett crushed into the ground grasped his arms and held firm, locking Sett in place as the Shieldbearer headed Aphelios' way, deflecting his shots. 

"That Lunari dies here, half-beast," the Solari slurred, grunting as Sett slammed him down again. "You'll follow him soon."

How these assholes found the time to shit-talk him- Sett snarled and lifted the man from the ground, muscles burning with fatigue, in an attempt to toss him into the incoming Shieldbearer. He wouldn't be dislodged.

Aphelios for the most part, ditched his rifle as soon as he saw the Solari approach, switching it in favor of a curved knife with two blades. A chakram? Sett thought that's what it was- he'd had a contender that used them once. Hopefully the sharp edge could get through the heavy plating. There was a spike of worry though. Aphelios had mentioned offhand that Shieldbearers and the like were trained against Lunari assassins like him- specialized, even. He needed to deal with the guy grasping him like a limpet- and at a groan to his side- deal with that Solari too. 

In a patently pragmatic move, he suplexed his hanger-on into the Solari struggling to move. The metal of their armor clanked satisfyingly, and then screeched in a way that had his ears flattening. These guys were a headache, even in defeat. The last of the Solari dealt with, Sett immediately turned to help Aphelios with his, only to feel his blood run cold. 

Aphelios had taken out the Shieldbearer- but a small contingent of reinforcements had him surrounded. He knelt on the stone, hands splayed in the dirt, blood dripping from his hairline in a worryingly steady stream. Two Solari flanked a third, standing in the middle with a spear angled tip-down, resting on Aphelios' spine.

Sett froze, exhaling sharply, and casually lifted his hands up in surrender. He would prefer them not executing his business partner. He needed to stall, think of a plan. 

"You must be the Vastayan in possession of our Radiance's armaments," the middle Solari said, one eye surveying the carnage. Given the comparatively ornate armor, scars, age- Sett was looking at the leader of this merry bunch of sunny bastards. Take him out, the other two would falter. But how to get close without Aphelios taking a hit?

"I may have something shiny, gold, and smelling like an asshole back home," Sett replied lazily. 

"I imagine you work in the service of this one here?" He tapped Aphelios' back like he was poking a carcass with a stick. Sett could see the fabric give way under the blade, the speartip glinting with sun-suffused gold. More of that antitoxin that left Aphelios whole and without his sister and weapons. Defenseless , for all intents and purposes.

"It's a mutual arrangement," Sett drawled, "and so what if I am?"

"Well," the man's eye slid to rest on him, appraising him disinterestedly. "We'll have to kill you along with the heretic-" at that Aphelios whirled, the hazy shape of one of his luminescent blades in hand, lashing out. He was clearly exhausted though, and in a poor position. The Solari leader flipped his spear and gave him a solid thwack to the side of the head before he could even raise his blade. Aphelios slumped back to the ground, blood trickling across the stone tiles. "The Sun will wish to see this one pay for the blood he has spilt."

A public execution back at Mount Targon for Aphelios, and a backwoods murder for Sett? Sounded about right. Sounded workable- for Aphelios more than him, as long as the head injuries didn't linger, but workable. He just needed them to get close, then he could-

Before he could bite out another snarky remark or rush forward and grab that spear to shove it somewhere real tender, a beam of light shot from the dark and slashed like a horizon. Sett couldn't even dodge, but the light hitting his skin didn't burn, didn't even tingle. It felt more like a gentle touch, like a warm breeze in the cold of spring, but while it felt soft to him it rent the Solari in two. They fell to the ground with a sick splatter.

Behind them, a woman who had to be the Aspect of the moon emerged from the dark, glowing as moonlight seemed to spotlight her. Pale hair, ghostly, lamplight eyes- "Diana," it had to be.

"It's still strange to me," she said. Her voice was surprisingly… normal, all things considered, especially for being imbued with a celestial power. "How many people know my name, yet I have never met them."

"You're complainin' about bein' a celebrity?" Sett raised an eyebrow. "Some people would love that kinda fame. You came back- why?" Not that he was complaining- in fact, he was desperately trying to figure out the right words to get her to stay, or at least take Aphelios with her. 

"I've known about my little," she glanced to Aphelios with curiosity, but didn't approach any closer. "Follower? Stalker?" She shrugged, "I haven't decided yet. I've known he was trailing me for awhile now, along with every Solari under the sun and who knows what else." Sett resisted the urge to growl. And failed. Diana looked amused at the noise. "Are you offended on his behalf?"

"He's destroyin' himself lookin' for you," Sett bit out. It may not be his information to share, but he was pissed at Diana's flippancy. "And you've known where he was, why , all this time? I should fucking drag you to Targon myself."

"This is the first time we've been on the same continent since I've known of him." She was woefully unintimidated by his threats. "Besides, I know nothing of him. He's a stranger."

"You're both Lunari- that's gotta count for something. He doesn't have to be a stranger." Though Sett knew in his heart that such a thing didn't guarantee mutual acceptance. He knew sometimes people preferred to not know people better. They preferred to keep the difference. He was proof enough. 

Diana smiled. "It's nice to know some parts of me aren't known." Turning she waved lazily, "until next time."

"Wait, seriously-" Sett bolted after her, faltering when he heard Aphelios begin to shift. "You'll just leave him here?"

She was already gone, disappeared into shadow like the moon behind clouds. "I'll keep in touch." 

Sett really should've just forgone the diplomacy. Though… a primal part of his brain didn't think he'd get very far in a physical altercation with an Aspect. That usually didn't stop him.

"Shit," he sighed.

Beside him, Aphelios gingerly picked himself up, hand pressing to his head. Sett wondered if he could feel the pain. Given the way he blankly took in the blood smearing his palm, he probably didn't. Exhausted and a little frustrated, Sett slid down the wall to join the Lunari, wiping a sweaty, bloody hand through his hair. Without the adrenaline, he was beginning to feel every cut and bruise. The two sat quietly, cataloging injuries and sharing the creeping moonlight. He could tell Aphelios was curious, as curious as he could be in his numbed state.

Eventually, Sett admitted, "Diana was here." Aphelios' face turned his way instantaneously but Sett closed his eyes and leaned back against the cool stone rather than see blankness where hope should be. "She killed the Solari reinforcements. She left afterwards though."

Aphelios hummed quietly. A low, monotone note. Sett imagined he was disappointed underneath all the poison- sad, disheartened, maybe hopeless too. 

There was a shuffle of fabric, paper, the scratch of a pen tip. Sett didn't look until he felt the paper press into his palm. He opened an eye to read the note, wishing he hadn't.

' I don't think I am destined to find her at all. It is a wild chase with no end but my own. ' The words were painfully bare, laced with such heartbreak and insecurity. But Aphelios remained statuesque, eyes locked on the sprawling Ionian countryside below, glowing faintly in the waning night. Dawn was just around the corner.

Sett ripped up the note. Aphelios turned to him with the barest glimmer of curiosity. "You're gonna find her and save your people, Phel. She said she'll 'keep in touch' or whatever and you've been good at keepin' tabs on her so far," he rambled. "Just… don't give up yet."

Like the sunrise, Aphelios' smile spread slow and warm despite the chilly night air.