Ekko was out like a light under heavy medication as Jayce and Poppy stood vigil at his bedside.
Celeste later joined them when she heard what had happened to Ekko and why it happened.
Jayce sat with his head in his hands, regret coursing through him like a bitter tide.
Celeste was worried for Jayce's well-being. "Jayce, its not your fault, no one is perfect, if my friend were this battered and bruised, I would be angry too," Celeste said. "Varus was just in the right place at the right time."
Poppy, usually the voice of reason, appeared uncharacteristically angry. She berated Jayce, her words laced with annoyance. "If you had stayed away from this whole mess, Ekko wouldn't be fighting for his life and you wouldn't be about to fight for yours! Can't you see that this girl is bad luck?!"
Celeste lowered her head as the accusations hit home. Jayce slowly lifted his head from his hands and shushed her with a finger to his lips and another pointing at a sleeping Ekko. "This isn't her fault, Ekko and I are Knights and are honor bound to help a lady in distress" he explained. "Besides, I hate bullies."
Poppy not giving up continued her accusation. "This isn't like you, I expect Ekko to do impulsive things like this," she whispered aggressively. "You usually think things through. You didn't used to go around accepting duels with everybody until you met her."
Jayce considered her words carefully. "You're right it wasn't me. I got so angry I could barely think," Jayce said. "Ekko said something to me before, that Varus had manipulated his emotions somehow."
"But he didn't chant," Poppy retorted. "You can't cast magic spells without a chant."
Celeste chimed in. "The special ability of Varus's Magnus clan is rumored to be an illusion spell that can manipulate the emotions of others," she said. "And this wouldn't be the first time that Varus was accused of using spells on people and got away with it because there was no chant but no one knows how he does it."
After a few moments went by, Jayce's right fist slammed into his left palm, realization dawning upon him. "That's it," he muttered to himself. "It all makes sense now."
Celeste and Poppy looked at him inquisitively. "What makes sense?" Celeste asks.
Shaking his head, Jayce dismissed the question, his focus shifting to the future. "Never mind. I have a lot of work to do. I need to prepare for this duel," he said before abruptly leaving the library.
Jayce waited patiently on his bed for night to come then under the cover of darkness, he cautiously made his way through the window, past the courtyard and over to the teacher's quarters again.
Sneaking past the sleeping professors, he knocked on the door of Master Yi's room.
Master Yi, wearing an expression of mild annoyance, raised an eyebrow as Jayce entered. "Why are you back again, kid? Didn't I tell you to consider the duel carefully or are you here to beg me to help you back out of the fight?"
Jayce took a deep breath, his face filled with determination and a hint of desperation. "Master, I accepted the duel so I will accept the responsibility of the fight, backing down is not an option I've considered," Jayce began. "All I need your help with is preparing as much as I can. Do I have any chance of winning, Master?"
Master Yi sighed, his gaze fixed on Jayce. "Kid, listen carefully," he said, his voice laced with a mixture of concern and resignation. "Varus is one of the best fighters I've ever trained. He's undefeated even against me. On his day, he has no weaknesses in his form. And in this exhibition, you're allowed to kill your opponent and use minor spells, as long as they're not destructive magic. You're walking into a dangerous situation. You might not make it out alive."
Jayce swallowed hard, his throat feeling dry. However, determination flickered in his eyes, unwavering in the face of the grim reality. "I still want you to train me, Master," he said, his voice steady. "I need every advantage I can get."
Master Yi looked deep into Jayce's eyes, searching for any trace of doubt or hesitation. What he found was resolute determination, a fire burning within the young man's spirit. He let out a sigh, realizing that Jayce had made up his mind.
"Come with me," Master Yi said, his tone softer now. He led Jayce to the rooftop, where the night air filled their lungs. The moon provided a dim illumination to their meeting place. Master Yi leaned against the rooftop railing, his gaze fixed on the city lights below.
"How long do we have before the exhibition?" Master Yi inquired, his voice calm.
Jayce thought for a moment before responding, "A month."
Master Yi nodded, his mind already formulating a plan. "Forget everything that I've ever taught you," he stated firmly. "WingBat won't work on someone as skilled as Varus. I will teach you the Patience Form."
Jayce's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "The Patience Form? What is that?"
Master Yi met Jayce's gaze, his eyes filled with a mix of seriousness and concern. "The Patience Form involves tight and efficient circles, deflecting and redirecting attacks rather than attacking directly. It's suitable for surviving against superior foes or enduring prolonged battles. However, it lacks offensive power or initiative, so you have to be clinical about when you abandon it to seek glory."
Jayce took in Master Yi's words, the weight of the training ahead settling upon his shoulders. He understood the gravity of the situation and the need to adapt his fighting style. With a determined nod, he looked into Master Yi' eyes and said, "I'm ready to learn, Master. Teach me the Patience Form. I'll do whatever it takes to be prepared."
Master Yi nodded, a flicker of pride crossing his features. "Good. We don't have much time, but we'll make the best of it. Training starts now."