"Only two Jokers in the deck, and I get dealt you."~ Twisted Fate, The Card Master
Double chapter.
Do me a favor and leave some comments.
Also, according to the actual map, the journey here should take multiple days but I'm pushing the thing a little faster as they are taking a direct route and not what Gregori took to get there in the first place. Even then if you take travelling by foot, I am making them cover some insane distances. Things that shouldn't be humanly possible.
Hey the power of fiction am I right?
Also this is a lot of words... point out any grammatical errors.
Drop some comments.
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"Be careful Ti...Gregori." Willa said as he began his journey. She seemed really scared for him. "If it get really dangerous just run. Survive. You have a family now."
Gregori smiled at her warnings. He placed a hand on her shoulder, "Its fine Willa. I'm not the same child anymore. I am stronger. Very few things can actually pose any sort of danger to me right now. Very few."
"I don't care." She said looking up at the child who had grown beyond her estimation. "You have children now. You have to return safely."
"Of course." Gregori nodded. "Do not worry too much Willa. I am more than capable of taking care of anything that comes my way."
And he was.
If push came to shove and something extremely dangerous did happen his backpack had quite the free escape card.
Caalyx.
Why else would he be so carefree?
Why else would he feel this liberated?
And then again... his magic could just bring him back from the depths.
Pulling his blood back into his body. Pulling his wounds shut. Pulling incoming weapons away from him.
He had learnt to fine tune his abilities and he was quite excited to witness them in action.
"Be careful daddy!" Daisy called out.
"I will." He called back.
Sydell yelled, "Beat them badly!"
"I will." He repeated. "I will."
He didn't turn back once. They would be safe here. No one could do anything to them. Eileen had stayed back to protect them and they beasts were still there. With the magic the children themselves possessed, nothing could harm them.
Tianna had offered to stay back and protect them but he denied that.
She was the captain of the Dauntless Vanguard. The group that was supposed to help defend against the invasion. And what good would they be if their leader left them this close to deployment?
She was even willing to pass down her mantle to Garen before doing so.
But change in leadership takes time, effort and trust. All three not available at the moment.
Gregori knew these decisions weren't a result of her own wants. Pieter was pulling the strings from behind. He couldn't fault the man. He just wanted his sister safe. And Gregori seemed to be the closest option.
He sighed at their behavior.
It just seemed odd that they would trust him. A person who they hadn't seen for multiple decades is technically not even the same person.
The trust they seemed to put on him felt heavy.
He wasn't walking toward the palace but West Gate. All the soldiers involved in the defense as well as every person commanding had all begun moving in the direction of High Silvermere. From there they would regroup and move up the adjoining mountains.
That was where they would begin their defense.
Another thing he had noticed was the way the enemies were moving. They had gone around Rakelstake to arrive here. After their failed invasion of the place the Avarosans probably did not give them permission to cross through their lands.
This meant that they would be tired. And tired enemies most often meant dead enemies.
He pulled his bag tighter as he exited the gates and walk toward the group waiting for him.
Members of the Dauntless Vanguard stood beside each other.
"I apologize for the delay." He said as he arrived closer to them.
Garen shook his head, "You are still on time Gregori."
"But we could have begun moving earlier if I had come earlier." Gregori replied.
"It is all ifs and buts." Garen said. "Nothing really happens as planned."
Gregori nodded.
"Your weapons?" Garen asked.
Gregori reached for the hand axe strapped to this side and pulled it out. "Freljordian axe."
Garen observed it for a moment before asking, "We had a few weapons made for you. But the best workers of House Durand. All Demacian steel."
"Considerate." Gregori nodded. "Show me."
Garen led him to a carriage and pulled the curtains apart. "Because your weapons were taken by us. We only see it fit to provide a replacement." He pointed to a weapon of each kind, "Not a single one contains Petricite. All pure Demacian steel."
"Quite different from the Demacian standard." Gregori commented, pointing to a circular shield.
Garen reached for it and pulled it out, "This was made after observing your own shield. Just without the spikes and a focus on keeping it from breaking."
Taking the shield off of Garen, he felt it in his hands. The way it sat when he held it. The way it moved when he swung it. "Not bad." But then something caught his eye. An axe. Very rarely did Demacians use axes. Spears and sword and large shields. That was their bread and butter.
Axes.
Axes were different. They were unruly. They were brutal.
It was everything Demacians were against.
"You made an axe?" He said as he picked it up.
Garen looked at the weapon with less enthusiasm, "The only time Demacian steel would ever be used to make an axe." He stated.
The axe was curved outward. A spike jutted out the top of its handle, like a short spear. The silvery-white look characteristic of Demacia steel made it look almost angelic.
Gregori swung it, the axe cut through the air smoothly. It's weight and balance were perfect. The heft throughout the whole weapon felt nice. Extraordinary.
"I'll take this." He said. And placed both axes at his hip. He then proceeded to take the shield with him as well.
"The shield?" Garen asked. "How will you wield both axes and a shield?"
Gregori let go of the shield and it stayed in air. "Like this." He said. As he finished the shield zipped around him. "I don't need to hold it for it to protect me."
"Your magic." Garen stated.
Gregori nodded. "Very versatile."
"You can make things float?" Garen asked. "I remember you sending that man out of the tent but you didn't explain."
"Pulling." Gregori answered. "My magic can pull."
"But you sent the man flying OUT of the tent." Garen pointed out.
Gregori smiled, "Pulling and pushing is a matter of direction. You saw him being pushed out. But I pulled him out. And this shield." He gestured to the floating shield. "This will being pulled just enough in one direction that it counters the gravity acting on it."
"But if someone attacks won't it be knocked away?"
"As an attack comes, I can pull the shield in the direction of the attack." Gregori answered as they all began their journey northward. "It is a lot of micromanagement but I have enough experience with it." Gregori answered. "I used to barely make things move and it would take a lot out of me but in a battle situation that little edge was all I needed. A little pull here and a nudge there, my enemies would fall." Gregori looked to the sky, "It was just enough to make it look like luck."
Garen nodded in thought, no doubt trying to figure out a way to counter his use of magic.
"Are you the mage?" A voice called out to the two who were walking in the front.
Gregori turned around to find a dark skinned woman walk up to them. She was in full Demacian armor, with the blue flowing cape. Her hair was cut short to her head.
"Captain Arrika!" Garen smiled. "It has been quite a while."
She turned away from Gregori and gave Garen a salute, "Captain Garen."
Turning back to Gregori, she repeated, "Are you the mage?"
Gregori observed her for a moment and then nodded.
"Lets hope you know what you are doing mage." She spoke with an air of superiority, "Don't get my soldiers killed with your plan."
"War always has casualties, your soldiers cannot be protected at all times." Gregori replied as he begun walking.
She snorted, "You will be off to the side, safely, behind all of us who will actually be doing the fighting."
"Arrika-" Garen began.
"No Captain Garen." Arrika stopped him, "You shouldn't be forced to defend him."
Garen tried to explain once more but Gregori stopped him.
"I will be on the frontlines with my weapons in hand." Gregori told her, "The faster I get this done.... the faster I can leave this kingdom."
"If you have no loyalty to the country why should I trust you?" She shot back.
Gregori stared her right in the eyes as he said, "I am being blackmailed into fighting this battle for you. My knowledge of the enemy is what is giving you the edge. My magic is what will change the tides of the battle." He stepped closer, as he stood almost a head taller than her, "I do not need you telling me what to do."
She met his gaze without flinching.
Gregori sighed and turned away after noticing her not backing down, "Come to Demacia as a messenger and forced to fight for the kingdom. Great fucking job Gregori. Great fucking job."
"Walk away mage." She goaded him.
But Gregori refused to fall for it. He could beat her into the ground at this very instant and he wouldn't face any backlash from the higher ups but it wouldn't help.
The soldiers were watching. Beating a direct superior and most likely someone they were fine with would only be a mistake. There was no need to make them enter his command with hatred in their hearts.
It would be easier to win them over later.
"Keeping walking mage." Arrika called out from behind them , "Let the soldiers do the actual fighting and cower behind all of us."
Gregori ignored her words.
"I hope you will forgive her Gregori." Garen began as he walked beside Gregori. "Its just-"
"I understand." Gregori spoke, "It is not easy to listen to a random person's plans and with me being a mage that just becomes even harder."
Gregori looked forward as he asked, "What about High Silvermere? Are you familiar with the place?"
Garen brightened up, "Of course. It is the home of the Crownguards. Though we have moved to The Great City, High Silvermere is still where our home lies. The manor. The Grand Crownguard Library. It is amazing."
"What can you tell me about the place?" Gregori inquired.
Garen fell into thought, "Well..... it is called the City of Raptors due to the large population of Silverwings in the area. There is a beautiful waterfall-"
"We are not going to sightsee Garen." Gregori interrupted, "Please keep the information to strictly advantages we can get."
"Food." Garen said. "Farmlands in the area are very fertile. It is one of Demacia's largest food producers."
Gregori nodded thoughtfully. "That is useful information. What about things like poisonous plants or beasts?"
"None." Garen answered. "Well there is the Pip Mushrooms but the poison is cooked out of them."
"Potency of the poison?" Gregori asked.
"Nothing fatal but can make your muscles lock up randomly." Garen stilled his moving hand for an instant before continuing his motion. "Like this."
"Interesting..." Gregori muttered. "Has this poison been synthesized?"
Garen frowned, "By synthesized, if you mean made into a liquid... then yes." He tried to remember something, "Farmers used to throw it in the area around their farms to ward away the Silverwings."
"Silverwings go after farm produce?"
He shook his head, "They go after the farmers. Lone people walking around the area? Asking to be picked off by the beasts."
"How long will our travel be?" Gregori finally asked wanting to know the duration of the travel.
"We will arrive by nightfall." Garen said as he began listing off the places on the way, "In an hour we will reach Edessa. Then we follow the path till Pinara then Lissus to Velorus. We should reach Velorus around four hours later. Then another two hours to High Silvermere."
"Any beasts, warriors or life-changing things on the way that I should know about?" Gregori asked.
Garen walked beside him in silence as he mentally went through every bit of information he knew, "There are Badgerbears in the nearby forests."
"Any tamed ones?" Gregori knew about the creatures. Looked like a badger while being shaped like a bear. Smart. And can be trained.
Garen nodded, "Quite a few Rangermasters have tamed them."
"Any of them in our force?"
"None." Garen replied, "They stay within their regions and will not move. And the Badgerbears won't move without them. They are territorial creatures as well."
The two continued in silence for a while.
"There is something I just remembered." Garen said without turning, "A few soldiers had formed a party to hunt some cursed harpy in the area."
"Harpy?" Gregori hadn't heard of the creature.
"A cross between a woman and a bird or raptor. Beak. Feathers. Wings instead of arms. Claws instead of feet." Garen explained, "Though this information is from stories about the creature. None of us have actually seen it. But these soldiers want to hunt it because it has seemingly attacked and killed a few people."
A cursed creature? That might be a problem.
Anything which doesn't have an explanation by standards of a land while also being a result of magic was always a problem.
"Are we in its path?" Gregori asked.
Garen shook his head but seemed unconvinced, "It is a little off to the west. A couple hours. But if it has wings...."
He did not need to finish his sentence. Gregori knew what he meant. A winged creature could cross the distance within an hour and it was quite possible for it move when chased.
"How many rangers on our side?" Gregori asked as they crossed Edessa.
"I do not know the exact count." Garen replied. "It could be anywhere from a hundred to two. There are a lot of forests here and rangers are required."
"All of them have a tamed beast?" Gregori asked in order to confirm.
Garen shook his head, "Not tamed beast but rather partners. Some rangers have multiple while most have just one."
"Like Quinn's eagle." Gregori answered.
Garen nodded, "Valor. Their partnership is what pushed them that far. She is considered the leader of the rangers in most parts. Having an Azurite Eagle on your side would tend to do that naturally but Quinn is special. People tend to trust her."
An couple hours later, as they arrived at Lissus, Garen called for a stop.
A momentary rest.
Even with the rest, with their pace, they would make it to High Silvermere by nightfall. Maybe a little after.
Gregori sat alone looking into the forest in thought. Garen had left him to keep his soldiers company. It was a different group, not the members of the First Stand. They were stationed against Noxus. Moving them would leave the east open to an invasion. Noxians were good at exploiting such chinks in the armor.
He had his bag placed in front of him as he looked forward.
"Mage." Arrika came once more.
Gregori didn't give her any attention.
"Mage!" She called unsheathing her blade.
Gregori didn't turn in her direction.
"Are you deaf?" She said as she swung her blade in his direction.
He just looked ahead as the blade stopped inches before him. He did not flinch.
At his attitude, Arrika moved the blade closer to his face. She wanted a reaction out of him. Make him act like how a mage should. In fear. In fear and respect. He seemed to show none of that.
Gregori did not react.
The blade came closer until it touched his cheek.
Arrika still didn't get a reaction, "You think I won't harm you?" She threatened.
But he did not react.
In order to intimidate him further, she began to slowly add pressure to the blade, pushing it against his skin.
It cut into his cheek.
He still did not react.
Skin split and a drop of blood bubbled out.
He did not react.
Arrika grunted at him, dissatisfied by his lack of decision. She gave him one last disgusted look before walking away.
Gregori did not turn to check if she was fully gone. But he let his magic flow. The drop of blood that had began to slide down his cheek began to reverse its path. It slithered back into his open wound. A second later, the wound closed itself. He kept his magic on the cheek not letting up because it closed. Letting it go would mean the wound would reopen. But a few minutes would be enough for it to seal back up.
And a few minutes later it did seal back up but that was because it was just a cut.
Bigger wounds wouldn't work the same way.
Garen then arrived as he called to restart their walk. "I apologize for leaving you alone Gregori."
He waved Garen off, "Its fine. You have soldiers to care for. I'm not really someone you need to look after."
"It is less looking after and more fascination." Garen admitted. "You are really interesting and both my father and aunt speak a lot about you."
"I haven't gotten the support of your mother?" Gregori asked sarcastically.
Garen snorted, "She likes you too. But only as an extension of your kids. She adores the little ones. Reminds her of my sister and I when we were younger. She desperately wishes those days back. Simpler times."
"Having to watch most of her family leave to fight as soldiers would be hard for anyone." Gregori commented.
"It is." Garen acknowledged. "And she is not taking it well. Every deployment. Every mission. Every time I return home tired, beaten and wounded, she fuses. I have heard her cry in her room multiple times."
"Why don't you stop?" Gregori asked, "Go for a standard noble route. Try to build up your force in the capital."
"I could." Garen admitted, "But it wouldn't be me. It would feel wrong. Not only to my allies but myself as well. And I don't want to let Jarvan stumble through his kingship. He is like a brother to me and right now.... I'm all he has left."
Gregori smiled at that. A true brotherhood. The two had practically grown up around each other. They had spent more time training, eating and playing together than either one had spent with their parents. That kind of relationship was expected.
"He is growing to be a strong king." Gregori commented.
Garen noticed his wording, "Strong king? Not a good one?"
Gregori shrugged, "A good king and a strong one are very different. And it is very hard to be both. Always one or the other. A strong king has to make decisions a good king would choose to not make. A strong king does not need the platitudes of his people. He has to shoulder the weight of the whole kingdom and continue to do so when no one is on his side." Gregori gave Garen a heavy look, "This kingdom needs a strong king..... not a good one."
Garen seemed taken aback by the words. "A strong king...." He whispered.
But then he halted, "Would you become king?" It was treasonous to eve think it but Garen had to ask the question.
Gregori shook his head with such force that it cracked, "Never. Even if I am the only one in line to the throne I would never take on that burden."
"A burden?" Garen asked, "People line up to be kings. How is that a burden?"
"The throne comes with its own burdens Garen." Gregori answered, "I do not want that burden. Political battles. Physical battles. Relationships with other kingdoms and lands. Welfare of the people. It is a balancing act. One that can only hasten your death. Look at Jarvan, how many times has he genuinely let loose and laughed since his ascension? How many times has he smiled?"
Garen didn't answer because he knew. He knew that Jarvan was beyond stressed. He knew that he wasn't getting enough sleep. He knew it all. But there was nothing he could do other than stand beside him.
As he contemplated Gregori's words, they arrived at High Silvermere.
The place was a natural fortress. Even in the darkening skies, Gregori could appreciate the tactical advantage this place provided. Mountains on one side. Forests on two others. And a large cliff facing south.
He spotted the waterfall Garen had spoken about as they entered. It was loud and frothing. The gushing water could be heard despite the large distance.
"That right there." Garen spoke, as he pointed to a large rock formation facing the cliff. homes were built along and inside the rock facing. All pristine and white. The Demacian standard adorned the walls. The Crownguard crest embossed in every stone embedded in the road. "That is King's Rock. Our ancestral home is at its foot. And there is an aviary at the peak. Silverwing aviary."
And then noticed it in its whole glory.
This place wasn't a land settlement. It was a city surrounding water basin. The waterfall wasn't as big as he expected.
No.
It was bigger.
It was massive. Stretching across the entire length of the city itself.
He asked the question that formed in his mind, "Where does the water come from?"
"Mountains and rain." Garen answered. "In a couple months it will not be this full, dropping to about one-fifth the current size. It is just the season for it."
"Where now?" He asked.
"We need to cross the river and get to the other end." Garen said. "There will be boats waiting for us."
River.
Gregori would not call it that. The width of the river almost spanned the entirety of Rakelstake. That was not a river.
Gregori got on a boat when they reached the river.
He wouldn't call them boat either.
They were large enough to accommodate multiple carriages and people.
He did not correct Garen on any of his definitions of the words. Different places had different terminologies for the same words. There would be no point.
Learn and adapt.