As Lanius said those words, Ahri's tails shifted to a single "lasher" tail. The tail then stroke forward, in an effort to stab the young man in the head.
Lanius raised one hand and flash freezed it, causing the tail to swirl and stab his shoulder.
Lanius yelped in pain. "Ahri" deviously grinned at the sound pain.
"So perceptive, yet so naive." she exclaimed.
The Winter then quickly reacted by rolling around, effectively pinning the imposter below him. The Winter then firmly gripped her throat.
"Who sent you?!" he demanded to know.
"Send...me?" she asked and flung her lasher at him for a slice.
Lanius rolled to the side and avoided the hit. The imposter jumped off the bed and went towards the wall. She then began to chuckle.
"Nobody send me. I willingly came here, Lanny." the imposter spoke. Her voice changed mid sentence. Lanius recognised it, it was the girl from the morning.
"You?" he asked and summoned his ice gauntlets. "What are you?"
"Let me show you!" the woman began to hysterically laugh. Her voice became disfigured and distorted as she changed her appearance yet again, first to the female he saw in his dream a few minutes ago and then to her true form.
Lanius stood in front of a woman with pink hands and claws, two "lashers" resembling twin tails, light blue skin and pink-white hair.
"Shape-shifting, eh? You're not using magic, so I assume that you're something far more sinister." Lanius exclaimed.
"Oh...I'm far more than a shape-shifter, like that wretched vastaya you love. I'm Agony's Embrace." she placed a finger over her lips. "But what do you say? Am I good enough for you?"
Lanius grit his teeth in frustration. The...demon chuckled yet again and tilted her head to the side.
"Well, we had a nice talk, Lanius. I'm afraid thought that I lost interest in you. Goodbye now." with those words uttered, Evelynn dadhed forward, shattering the door in the process.
Lanius darted out, grabbing his satchel in the process.
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Sett, Rakan and Kayn sat at a round table and played a card game. Ahri and Xayah watched them. Suddenly, a loud thud echoed through the top floor, followed by what they could interpret as a woman, who dashed out of the Inn.
Lanius followed a few seconds later. His eyes were fully covered by a light blue glow and he had a bleeding wound on his right shoulder.
He gave a quick look at the table and especially at Ahri. Then without a word, the young man rushed out of the Inn himself and after the woman.
The Ionians stood there in confusion. A few seconds later, Ahri frantically got up, followed by Xayah. The two vastaya bolted out as well.
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Lanius dove forward and hurled a set of ice shards at Evelynn. The Winter had been chasing the demon for the past minutes in the streets of The demon sliced three of them. The other three ended up on the walls.
Lanius rushed after her again, and the two found themselves in an open area, filled with citizens. Some turned around to the sight of the demon and the Winter.
The demon stopped and turned around. Lanius haulted and looked at her.
By that time, the citizens had began to sense their presence and even began to understand what was happening.
"Who is that woman?"
"Look at the young man! Is he hurt?"
"His eyes and arms!"
"Is that...ice magic?!"
Some Demacian troops even began making their way towards them.
Lanius took a deep breath. "End of the line, demon." he replied.
"Oh really, boy?" Evelynn chuckled. "Well then, I guess I'll need to make my grand exit."
Xayah and Ahri also stopped behind him.
Just as he slightly turned towards them, Evelynn moved at the speed of light. The two lashers slung forward. Lanius instinctively covered his right eye, perhaps it was that move that saved it, as the first lasher sliced at his face, right at the nose and the second lasher sliced off his satchel.
Lanius held his face for a brief period, but stopped as he heard one of the most devastating sounds of the world. The rune dropping down. It fell and rolled a few meters away from him.
Everyone's gaze instantly fell on the stone. With a swift dash, Evelynn rushed back in the alleys, never to be seen again.
The whole area went silent for a few seconds. Some people froze in place, with dread in their eyes. Others backed away the instant they saw it.
Lanius hoped that they'd be deceived. But Demacians never forgot.
"A rune!" one cried.
Then more cries followed. Then panic ensued.
Lanius quickly reacted. He instantly created a wall of fog around him.
"Inn, now!" It took mere seconds to snatch the rune and rush away, with Xayah and Ahri going from different directions.
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The door of the Inn finally opened as the thunderstorm smited Demacia. Lanius entered the Inn. Giant water droplets dripped from his braid.
The young man scanned the area. The Inn was empty, aside from the Ionians.
Ahri got up and approached him. Lanius instinctively hugged her, despite being wet to the bone. The vesani let out a sigh of relief.
"Where have you been? It's been hours." she questioned.
"Hiding. You have to go." Lanius exclaimed.
"Go?" Xayah asked in confusion. "We're leaving?"
"If we're lucky, the Mageseekers won't come so soon." the Winter exclaimed. "The sooner we leave, the more chances we'll have to finally reach Freljord."
"I don't think that they're going to respond that quickly, even for a rune." Rakan muttered.
As that was said, somebody pounded on the door. "Open the door this instant!"
The owner moved towards the door and opened it with hesitation.
Seven people entered the Inn just as a thunder fell in the background, making the scene more eerie.
One of them was a young man with a bulky armor. Another one was the Mageseeker with the ginger hair. The rest were Demacian soldiers.
"Adept Cornelia, what an unexpected visit. You too, Commander Garen." the owner exclaimed.
"Of course." the woman took another step forward and eyed the Winter. "Nobody expects the Mageseekers."
Lanius remained calm, despite the scene. The Mageseeker took a look at each and everyone present. Then she placed her hands behind her back and questioned.
"Your name, mage?"
"Lanius Varholl, son of Zefarin." the young man replied.
"Lanius Varholl, there have been multiple eye witnesses that claimed to have seen you possess what seemed to be a Runic stone. Is this true?" the Mageseeker questioned.
Lanius, without a word raised his right hand. The half of the Frostbite's Fist glowed under the candy light. "This is rightfully mine." he said.
The guards, including the Commander, took a step back and raised their weapons.
The Mageseeker then spoke. "Arcane items have undeniable intrigue. But these objects of power are best left to the capable hands of our experts, and away from the well-meaning ignorance of our citizens."
Lanius chuckled. "I'm not your citizen though."
The Mageseeker's lips became a thin line. "That fact doesn't except you from our justice system. Lanius, son of Zefarin. By the order of his Majesty, King Jarvan the fourth of Demacia, you are under arrest for the possession of an Arcanic rune stone and illegal usage of ice magic. A hearing-court will be scheduled in a week."
She then stretched one of her hands towards the Winter. "Hand over the Rune, and your allies will be allowed to leave the city."
Xayah plucked out one of her feathers, as the Ionians got up and adopted a combat stance. The Demacian soldiers reacted by raising their weapons, but Lanius raised one hand to stop the Ionians.
He then turned around and approached Ahri.
Lanius leaned forward and gently kissed her in the lips, as he placed his hands in her cloak and towards her waist. Then, he let go and spoke to her. "Leave and go in the nearest village. Once I'm done, I'll meet you there. It won't take long."
"Are you sure, Wolfy?" Ahri seemed anxious.
The young man gently brushed his fingers against her right cheek. "Trust me, Foxy. I suppose it's time for the winter to come to Demacia. It's been a long time."
The Mageseeker cleared her throat. Lanius took a quick look at the rest of the Ionians. "Take care." he said.
The Winter then approached the Mageseeker and handed her the rune with a grin.
Two guards approached and locked his hands in a small box out of petricite.
They then left, with Lanius smiling the whole time.
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The moment that the door was shut, Ahri reached into her cloak and pulled the real rune from within. When Lanius kissed her and pulled hid hands in her cloak for what seemed like an embrace, he actually switched the rune with a perfect copy and gave the real one to her, while he handed the fake one to the Mageseeker.
"Well, he made a pretty smart move." Sett exclaimed.
By that time, Kayn and Rakan had already gotten their stuff.
"Let's go then, shall we?" Xayah asked.
"Let's go."