"Dirty? You speak so disrespectfully, Prince Jarvan," the white-haired middle-aged woman chuckled lightly.
Though Demacia and Noxus lie at the opposite ends of the Valoran continent, their vast distance has not prevented continuous wars between the two nations over the centuries due to Noxus' expansion. As a result, the nobility and royalty of both sides have had to learn each other's languages.
The white-haired Noxian woman spoke in Demacian, so Jarvan IV understood her perfectly.
"The blood clan is great; blood magic is a precious art in this world."
The woman's tone was cold. "If I were your mother, I would be ashamed of your remarks today, as I failed to teach you proper etiquette..."
"Oh, I seem to have forgotten something," she said with a cheerful smile. "You have no mother, so I can understand this lapse. I forgive you."
Jarvan IV stared at the woman a short distance away, his eyes narrowing slightly. His teeth clenched, veins bulging on his temples, and anger burned in his gaze.
His mother had died during childbirth, and he had grown up in the palace with no memories of her. Yet, Jarvan III often spoke of his beloved queen consort, Catherine, whom he had married through political alliance but shared a close relationship with.
Though Jarvan IV had never met his mother, he revered and respected her through his father's stories.
Now, someone was using his deceased mother to insult him...
No, calm down, Jarvan. This woman is clearly trying to provoke you. Don't fall for it!
Jarvan IV took several deep breaths, the cold air slicing through his parched throat and lungs, as he tried to calm his anger.
"You are facing the model of Demacia—Prince Jarvan IV, General of the Royal Vanguard!"
He gritted his teeth and forced a calm tone. "State your name, Noxian woman."
"If it will help you understand your fate better," the woman said with a detached smile, "I am Faris Noladi, head of the Noladi family, General of the Grey Brigade. If you please, you may call me the Lady of Blood."
"The Lady of Blood Noladi, Grey Brigade..."
At hearing the name and recalling the blood magic she had just used, Alberk's pupils contracted slightly. He quickly whispered to the prince, "I've heard that name before…"
Alberk did not hesitate, and quickly relayed what he knew about a Noxian spy who had infiltrated Demacia years ago.
It had happened a few years ago when Grand Marshal Tiyana Crownshield was still the Sword Captain of the Fearless Vanguard. During Noxus' invasion of Ionia, she and the former Grand Marshal, along with the King, had sent a few spies to gather intelligence in Noxus.
The outcome was evident: only one spy returned to Demacia alive, but his mind was completely shattered. He died in his own basement shortly thereafter.
The Magic Seekers who discovered him reported that the room was filled with ritualistic items and a magical array drawn in blood on the floor.
The spy had mutilated himself, laying out his entrails in the corners of the array, seemingly to summon some evil entity.
Unfortunately, due to the city's buildings being made of Petricite, he failed.
According to subsequent research by the Lightbringers and the Magic Seekers, the symbols on the magical array matched the Noladi family, a Noxian family with a history of several centuries.
That spy had been turned into a blood thrall by the Noladi family's blood magic, intended to create chaos in Demacia.
"This family is rumored to be linked to the mysterious Black Rose… it seems that rumor is indeed true," Alberk said.
"Oh? You've only just realized that we are members of the Black Rose?" Faris said with clear disdain. "I'm quite disappointed in you."
Perhaps she felt that killing a Demacian prince was a mere formality, or she was stalling for time, waiting for her reinforcements to arrive so she could "chat" with them.
In either case, the situation was dire.
Jarvan IV raised his spear, pointing its tip at Faris, and shouted angrily, "Enough talk! Bring out the ambushers surrounding us!"
"Tsk, tsk. I suggest you surrender, Prince of the Lightshield," Faris said, clicking her tongue and shaking her head. "This way, you won't have to suffer as much and will enjoy the usual treatment for defeated prisoners."
Jarvan IV was not about to waste more time with this cold woman. He immediately ordered his Royal Vanguard to charge at her.
The soldiers wore rune steel armor infused with Petricite, offering them some resistance to magic.
Jarvan IV, trained by Zhao Xin, could use his "spiritual power" to summon a "Golden Shield" for defense.
This was why he was not afraid of Faris' blood magic.
With preparations in place, Jarvan IV did not need to remind his troops; their long-standing cooperation allowed them to understand his intentions through body language alone.
As the prince led the charge out of the shield formation toward Faris, the remaining 19 soldiers followed in formation, quickly closing in on the woman who called herself the "Lady of Blood" in a semi-surrounding formation.
Unfortunately, while Jarvan IV's strategy and combat skills were excellent, facing a centuries-old foe proficient in advanced blood magic was beyond their capability.
Faris smirked, raising her right hand, and a blood magic orb formed in her palm.
As Jarvan IV and his soldiers approached within a few meters, she crushed the blood orb with force.
A dark red shockwave erupted from the shattered orb, spreading out like a blood nova in an instant.
"Not good!"
Jarvan IV reacted quickly, raising his thick Golden Shield.
Though he barely managed to block the powerful blood magic, the intense shockwave still sent him flying over twenty meters, crashing heavily to the ground.
The shockwave spread so rapidly that five soldiers did not have time to react, and the blood wave struck their faces, burning them severely and causing them to scream in agony.
The other soldiers rushed forward to confront Faris but were all evaded by her blood mist, and she released a close-range blood nova, sending them all flying.
The severely injured soldiers were thrown in various directions, landing on the ground, unconscious and potentially dead.
Jarvan IV felt several of his ribs break and embed deeply into his flesh, the excruciating pain overwhelming his nerves and rendering him nearly immobile.
He spat out blood and gripped his spear, forcing himself to rise.
Seeing his scattered subordinates, Jarvan's eyes burned with rage. He staggered a few steps toward Faris, who had reformed her shape a few steps away.
"How pitiful. If you had surrendered earlier, you wouldn't be in this predicament."
Faris easily swatted aside Jarvan IV's spear thrust and kicked him to the ground.
Just as Jarvan IV was sinking into despair, a strange young man's voice brought a glimmer of hope: "Hi, everyone! I hope I'm not too late?"
(End of Chapter)