The first rays of the morning sun filtered through the windows of Jayce's private quarters at Castle Kassadin, casting a warm glow upon the room. Stirring from his slumber, he found himself surrounded by an unexpected assembly, patiently awaiting his awakening.
Sylas, impeccably dressed with his black hair neatly combed, stood beside Jayce, his expression inscrutable. Captain Jax, seated in a nearby chair, exuded an air of boredom, his eyes wandering aimlessly. Irelia, her impatience evident, fixed Jayce with an expectant gaze. Disoriented and groggy, Jayce took in the scene, his mind struggling to catch up with the present moment.
With a calm demeanor, Jayce voiced his thoughts, his words tinged with a touch of exasperation. "It is way too early in the morning for all this," he grumbled, his voice betraying his weariness.
Sylas cleared his throat, preparing to speak. "The Duke has a habit of vanishing from the castle without proper instructions, leaving us waiting in anticipation," he explained, a hint of frustration lacing his words. "Fortunately, he left this for you." Sylas extended a letter from the Duke toward Jayce.
Jayce, feeling a surge of impatience, gestured for Sylas to read the contents of the letter instead. Sylas obliged, his voice steady as he began to recite the Duke's words. "Dearest Jayce, my spies have pinpointed the location where Riven, our psychic witch, resided prior to joining the Xerathians. Touch down on the Island of Mann on the northern coast. Unearth all you can about her and bring her to the surface. Your mission may be complicated by the ongoing civil war, as the Fire King currently supports Viktor of House Varrick to ascend the throne. There is a considerable number of mercenaries under Viktor's command, former members of the bronze phoenix. P.S. Note that Viktor is a shrewd political player, so you may have to resort to threats to elicit his cooperation. Yours truly, Kassadin."
Irelia, her curiosity piqued, interjected with a question. "So, what do we do next?"
Jayce, stifling a yawn and absentmindedly scratching his stomach, mustered his thoughts. "I want everyone in this room to scatter and reconvene in the Duke's quarters in two hours," he declared, his tone decisive.
Before anyone could voice their objections or protest, Jayce with a resolute kick, ushered them out of his quarters, reclaiming the solitude he craved, allowing himself a few precious moments to gather his thoughts and prepare for the challenging mission that lay ahead.
The corvette sailed smoothly through the choppy waters, the wind whipping against Jayce's face as he stood on the deck, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. Since they had no need for subterfuge, they did not carry fish which was a stroke of luck.
As the group disembarked on the shores of Mann, they made their way through the icy and snowy terrain, navigating the treacherous landscape. Soon, they found themselves standing inside a warm military tent, where Viktor, a small man with a formidable beard, engrossed himself in studying a map.
He was shorter compared to Jayce, Jax, Sylas, and even Irelia.
Jayce cleared his throat, attempting to capture Viktor's attention. "Ahem, my name is Jayce. I've been sent by the Duke," he announced, his voice carrying a note of urgency.
Viktor sneered dismissively, his focus still fixed on the map. "You're not in my schedule, and the Duke is a distant thought," he retorted. "I have a war to win and ambitions to achieve."
Undeterred, Jayce recalled the Duke's advice about Viktor's political nature and the need for threats. With a deliberate motion, Jayce cleared his throat once more, his hand sweeping across the table, causing everything, including the map, to crash to the ground. The sudden commotion caught the attention of everyone in the command tent.
"Now, I'm here to jog your memory," Jayce declared, his tone firm and unwavering.
Viktor, taken aback by Jayce's audacity, let out an inappropriate higher-pitched laugh. "A threat? Then I'll send the Duke your lifeless body as a message. Guards, dispose of him swiftly," he commanded, his voice laced with arrogance.
Jayce, Sylas, and Jax instinctively placed their hands on their blades, ready to defend themselves. However, to their surprise, none of Viktor's guards moved. One of them spoke up, breaking the tense silence. "We may be mercenaries under your command, but our allegiance still lies with the bronze phoenix. We consider this man an ally," he declared, reaffirming their unexpected support.
Viktor's laughter turned into a nervous cough as he realized the tables had turned. "Okay, I wasn't expecting that," he stammered, his voice now tinged with apprehension. "Maybe I was too hasty. What can I do for you, friend?"
Jayce couldn't help but feel a sense of dizziness at Viktor's abrupt change of demeanor. Moments ago, he was prepared to have them executed, but now he acted as though they were old friends. Truly, Viktor was a masterful political creature.
"I need any information you can gather on a girl named Riven," Jayce demanded, his voice resolute.
Viktor nodded, a gleam of recognition in his eyes. "Ah, yes. She used to be a part of a royal house. House Aravel, led by Iliana Aravel," he revealed. "Bring her to me, and I'll extract the information you seek."
With their new lead in hand, the group set off, their determination driving them forward as they embarked on the search for Iliana Aravel, hoping to uncover the truth about Riven's past and fulfill their mission in the tumultuous waters of the Island of Mann.