Chapter Text
February 13, 999
The bright light of the morning sun poured into a quiet boudoir in the Crownguard Manor. The beaming rays shone through a glass window that was positioned above the bed, awakening Luxanna Crownguard from her peaceful sleep. Her serene blue eyes fluttered open as a soft yawn escaped her lips. The young woman sat up and stretched her arms out over her head.
Lux pulled herself out of bed to begin her daily ritual as usual. Her bed was to be made neat and tidy first and foremost, just as she was taught by her mother in her youth. She readjusted the sheets and duvet before folding them over, allowing space for her fluffy pillows and stuffed animals to sit at the top.
Then, the young woman made her way to the armoire that was adjacent to her bed. She opened the doors and searched for an outfit to wear underneath the set of armour she would eventually have to put on. Lux removed her white satin nightgown and replaced the nightwear with a navy blue jumpsuit.
Next, she entered the dining hall. Delicious aromas filled Lux’s nose upon her entry. The busy noise of pans clanking and food sizzling on the stove could be heard from the kitchen. The young woman sparked up casual conversations with her family’s maids and butlers as they passed by her, preparing the Crownguards for their breakfast. One of the butlers pulled a seat out from under the long refectory table for the young woman. She kindly thanked him before sitting down.
There, she met with her older brother, Garen. Even though the sun had only just risen a few minutes prior, he was already sitting in the dining hall. Lux noticed that he was fully dressed and his plate was halfway empty. Just how long had he been here for? She couldn’t stop herself from stifling a giggle.
“Good morning, Garen,” Lux greeted her brother. “Where’s Mom and Dad?” She looked around the room to find them, but only saw dozens of empty chairs pushed in under the table.
“They left a little earlier than usual,” Garen responded inbetween chewing a large slab of bacon. He seemed unphased by their absence. “We need to meet them at the castle as soon as possible. I hear you’re due for more training.”
“Ah, alright. I won’t be long.” She weakly assured him, sounding defeated in contrast to her usual chipper tone. Of course, Lux understood that her family consisted of very busy nobles, but she still wished that they could stay around long enough to share a meal together. The days they spent together at home were few and far between. That timespan seemed to increase further as Lux grew older.
The two Crownguards finished the rest of their breakfast in a hurry and continued to prepare themselves for the workday ahead. They stopped by the armory, stored under lock and key in the manor’s basement. It was the pride and joy of the Crownguards, and had been for many generations. Lux and Garen collected their protective gear, forged expertly out of silver Demacian steel. The older brother locked the heavy, towering doors of the armory behind them, and Lux walked with him to the front of the manor.
When they stepped through the doors of the estate. A sudden feeling awoke in Lux, like a flickering flame of desire to do something spontaneous. She was never one to act on impulse. Every move that a Crownguard made was to be calculated with the best interests of others in mind, but a single word rang in her head in an endless loop.
Piltover.
Her body and mind were itching to go. Lux tried to ignore the repeating call with every fiber of her being. The young woman would continue the same routine that she had for years. She was to report to the castle with Garen and continue her training so that she could join the King’s guards, just as her family had always done. Why was she thinking about Piltover anyway? Lux hadn’t visited the city in years. Still, the call was persistent.
It wasn’t long before the Crownguards reached the castle. It stood tall among the great city, shining brilliantly under the sun. Its colossal size and beauty served as a beacon of hope for the citizens, and a symbol of power to others. Just as they were about to pass through the gate, Lux’s mind had convinced her to follow her instincts. She was going to Piltover.
“Garen?” Lux whispered, discreetly trying to gain his attention. Two guards wearing similar armor to the Crownguards were surveying the people approaching the gate. She pulled her hood over her head, hoping to go unnoticed. “Tell Mom, Dad, and Kahina that I was feeling ill this morning and couldn’t make it.”
“What are you talking about?” Her brother asked for clarification, but before he could get an answer, Lux was already making her escape. She slipped into a crowd heading to a different section of the city, far away from the castle. “Lux!” He called out, but she had completely disappeared among the sea of people.
Lux never stopped running; not for a second. She couldn’t even be bothered to glance behind her. The morning wind swept through her blonde hair as she raced down the crowded streets. The young woman swerved out of the way of traffic, briefly apologizing to those she nearly bumped into. She went to the airship station and began looking for one that was heading to her destination.
“Can I help you, Ma’am?” Lux heard someone question her. His voice was kind, but there was a hint of concern. She turned around to face the man. From his neat blue suit and willingness to aid her, the Crownguard assumed that he had to be an attendant.
“I’m wanting to go to Piltover. As fast as possible please, I’ll pay anything.” Responded a sweaty Lux through heaving breaths. No longer needing to hide her identity, she took off her hood and hoped that a cool breeze would pass by her. The attendant began to gleam with delight.
“Oh, Miss Crownguard! My sincerest apologies, I didn’t know it was you. I’ll take you right away. Don’t worry about a fee!” He exclaimed. The attendant led Lux through the port of various airships waiting to depart to different cities and countries. He stopped in front of one with a sign that read the name that she became so unusually drawn to.
“It’ll be about a day’s travel to Piltover,” the attendant told Lux. “You made it just in time. They’ll be leaving here soon.”
Lux thanked him for his help before boarding onto the massive airship. Thankfully, it wasn’t very crowded that morning. Most of the people on board appeared to be tourists like herself, just wanting to take a vacation to the City of Progress. Though, Lux was hardly sure this counted as a vacation. She had no clue when she would return, but maybe she would find out why her mind yearned for the city so much.
The day turned into night twelve hours into the flight. Lux stood by the edge of the airship, peering out to view the stars above as they passed by. The ringing in her head had stolen any chance for rest, so the Crownguard spent her night peacefully enjoying the scenery instead.
However, Lux wasn’t the only passenger still awake on board. Two people, a man and a woman stepped outside of the airship’s cabins. She could hear them arguing in whispers behind her. Curious, she listened in, but continued to keep her attention focused on the sky so as to not be too obvious in her eavesdropping.
“I told you it wouldn’t be a good idea to head out there,” the man sharply chided the woman. “There’s a maniac tossing rockets into buildings. What if we get caught up in that?”
The woman let out an annoyed huff.
“The enforcers say it was an isolated incident,” she defended herself. “I’m not going to let it rain on my parade, and you shouldn’t either.”
While the two people continued their quarrel, the Crownguard began to second guess her own instincts. What if she wasn’t supposed to come here? Had the call inside of her head been a warning rather than a welcome? Lux pinched the bridge of her nose. She tried to ignore the negative thoughts brewing in her head. There was a reason she was here, and she was determined to find it out.
Daybreak illuminated the gilded city of Piltover as it appeared just over the horizon. Its glory came into full view as the airship followed its course towards the dock. Several people began leaving their cabins to watch the ship pull in, gasping in wonder at the sight of the city. A few had joined Lux by the edge of the ship. The Crownguard was just as mesmerized by Piltover’s beauty.
The tourists headed off of the airship at the dock with glee and pep in their steps. Lux watched the couple she overheard the night before walk apart from each other. The woman still seemed angry, but the man’s flaming fury had melted into what looked like fear. He eyed the woman nervously, carefully looking around them. Lux tried not to think too hard about their worries.
The streets of Piltover were alive and filled with excitement. The sound of footsteps hitting the pavement could be heard as people walked along the sidewalk, gossiping and laughing about. The humming of Piltovan vehicles and honking of their horns flooded Lux’s ears. Skycrapers and luxurious buildings stood on every corner. The gadget shops enticed the tourists in with their advertisements of the newest inventions in the window. Bakeries, delis, and markets all had their freshest products on display, drawing people closer with the mouth-watering aromas.
As intrigued as Lux was by what Piltover had to offer, her lack of sleep was finally catching up to her. She decided that it would be best to find somewhere to rest her head before she went out to explore. The young woman found a stall in the marketplace selling maps and newspapers to newcomers for cheap. Lux purchased one and examined it to find a nearby inn that she could stay at for the night. There was one placed just a few blocks down from her current location.
On her walk to the inn, the Crownguard’s feet were wearing out beneath her. They felt heavy, like she was dragging prison chains around her ankles. An aching pain pulsed through her feet to her legs. Lux couldn’t make it any further, she could hardly keep her eyes open. Too exhausted to continue, she stopped by an alleyway to rest for a moment. Her body felt instant relief as she pressed her back against the wall, closing her eyes and taking the pressure off of her feet to keep going.
A peculiar laughter emerged from the other end of the shaded alleyway. As it continued, it became louder and more manic. Lux narrowed her eyes and peered into the darkness, hoping to discover who or what was making such a terrifying racket. The tall, lanky silhouette of a young woman could be seen, dimly outlined by the light behind her. Her pink eyes glowed in despite of the dark, much like a cat. She held some kind of object in her hand.
“Are you alright?” Lux asked, moving towards her.
The Crownguard’s voice alerted the strange woman of her presence. Her face became more visible as Lux drew closer. She cocked her head while she looked at Lux with crazed violet eyes. A thick strand of blue hair fell onto her face. Instead of laughing this time, a wide grin formed at the corner of her lips. She showed off the object in her hand and rubbed her thumb over the button before pressing it.