Jayce approached the infirmary, his footsteps softened by the hushed atmosphere. As he peered through the partially open door, his eyes fell upon Ekko, slumbering peacefully in his bed. Poppy, ever watchful, sat by his side, her gaze filled with concern and unwavering loyalty. The pale moonlight filtering through the window cast a gentle glow upon their figures, creating an ethereal scene.
Poppy turned her head, sensing Jayce's presence. Recognition flickered in her eyes, and she rose from her seat, stepping out to meet him. Concern etched lines on her forehead as she regarded him. "Stay with Ekko until I come back," Jayce instructed, his voice filled with a mix of determination and urgency.
Her concern deepened, Poppy questioned him, her voice tinged with worry. "Where are you going?"
Jayce's response carried a hint of cautious hope, his words chosen carefully. "I don't want to get your hopes up, but there might be a way to help Ekko heal his body and fulfill his dream of becoming a Knight. However, there are some things I must do for others first."
Before Poppy could voice her myriad of questions, Jayce took a decisive step forward. In a surprising and tender moment, he leaned in and kissed her squarely on the lips. The unexpected gesture left Poppy stunned, her voice stolen by the intensity of the moment. And then he was gone, leaving her standing there, both bewildered and flushed with a deep shade of crimson.
Time seemed to stand still as Poppy stared into the void, her mind racing to make sense of what had just transpired. A mix of emotions flooded her, intertwining with the lingering tingle of the kiss. Confusion, surprise, and a hint of joy blended together, creating a whirlwind within her.
Startled by her outburst, Ekko stirred from his slumber, his eyes fluttering open. "What just happened?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Poppy, her smile growing wider by the second, shook her head playfully, refusing to divulge the details. She reveled in the moment, cherishing the unexpected connection that had left her breathless.
As Jayce made his way towards Duke Kassadin's castle by the seashore, he pulled out the Yi family journal from his dimensional storage and rested it in his grasp. Amidst the rhythmic crashing of waves against the shore, he found himself captivated by a spell within the journal's depths—a spell that could sway the will of others. The author noted that if you can point to any direction and say "look over there!" and the person looks, then they can be placed under the spell.
Eager to test its potency, Jayce scanned his surroundings, searching for a suitable subject. His eyes fell upon a distressing scene unfolding before him. A bandit, armed with a dagger, loomed over a frightened fruit seller and her innocent daughter, demanding their meager possessions. Jayce stepped forward, intercepting the bandit's path.
"Please," Jayce pleaded, his voice trembling with feigned fear. "Don't hurt them. They have nothing of value."
The bandit sneered, his grip tightening around the hilt of the dagger. "Don't lie to me! I can see the fruit. Give me everything you have."
With a quick motion, Jayce pointed towards the dense woods nearby, his voice urgent. "Look over there!"
The bandit's attention momentarily diverted, his gaze shifting towards the direction Jayce had indicated. In that fleeting moment, Jayce seized the opportunity, whispering the chant:
"Through whispered plea, my will conveyed,
In harmony's embrace, do as I say."
A moment of disbelief washed over the bandit as the spell took hold. Jayce calmly spoke to the bandit. "You don't want their fruit or their valuables. You want to give me your dagger. It is much more useful to me than to you."
As if in a trance, the bandit nodded, his grip loosening on the weapon. With a mixture of confusion and obedience, he handed over the dagger to Jayce before swiftly retreating into the shadows, leaving Jayce and the fruit seller in stunned silence.
Gratitude radiated from the fruit seller's eyes as she thanked Jayce profusely. In a gesture of appreciation, she offered him a piece of ripe fruit. Jayce chuckled softly, savoring the taste as he continued on his journey to Duke Kassadin's castle, now armed with his newfound weapon.
Jayce arrived at the towering castle, situated on the southwestern shore of the Kingdom of Fire. As he approached, the sight of the imposing structure took his breath away. The castle, built from red stone and fortified with black iron, stood tall and majestic, overlooking the vast expanse of the sea with its high walls.
A moat, unlike any other, encircled the castle, its fiery lava replacing the customary crocodile infested water with a drawbridge the only connection to the outside world.
However, a problem presented itself. A line of people had gathered in front of the drawbridge, voices raised in protest. "We have invitations from the Duke!" they cried out with letters bearing the same insignia of a black phoenix as the one Jayce held, desperation lacing their words. "We've been out here for hours! Let us in!"
The soldiers, donned in their bronze armor bearing the emblem of the bronze phoenix, remained unmoved, their expressions hardened by duty. "We don't care," they jeered, their laughter echoing through the air. "Use that invitation to wipe your behind."
Jayce took a deep breath, his mind racing for a solution. With determination in his eyes, he hid the letter in his coat and strode forward, breaking through the crowd. "Make way! Make way! I'm coming through!" he declared, his voice commanding attention.
Fear coursed through the line of people, and they obediently parted to allow him passage. However, the soldiers intercepted Jayce's path, their gazes filled with skepticism. "Who do you think you are?" they questioned, their voices laced with arrogance.
Jayce pointed to the side and said, "Look at that." But they didn't move.
"You think we're fools?" they said. "What's your name?"
Switching to plan b, Jayce's voice grew steadily louder, his frustration boiling over. "What's my name? WHAT'S MY NAME?!" Jayce roared, getting increasingly louder. "The Duke will hear about this insubordination!"
The soldiers, once dismissive, began to grow nervous. Who was this young man that dared to challenge their authority?
"Tell the Duke that Jayce Stormcloak, he genius of Fyre Academy, the one who defeated Varus Magnus, has arrived. Which one of you will take responsibility for not letting me through?" Jayce proclaimed, his words dripping with confidence.
At the mention of Varus, the soldiers exchanged fearful glances, their bravado crumbling. They pleaded with Jayce to enter the castle, their voices filled with desperation. "No," Jayce replied, a knowing smile playing at his lips. "I want the Duke to know of your insolence!"
The soldiers continued to plead, their voices filled with desperation, until Jayce feigned relenting and agreed to enter the castle. Once out of their sight, his smile widened, knowing that his plan had worked.