Andel lived in Hengfeng Village, at the foot of Everpeak, a region near the border.
Under normal circumstances, a disappearance like this near the border would likely be related to bandits. It wouldn't be surprising if his wife and daughter had been taken, kidnapped, and sold off.
Human trafficking was a common crime throughout Runeterra, even in places like Piltover.
But if this were a simple case of human trafficking, it wouldn't have required the attention of Jarvan IV.
If bandits had indeed caused this, it wouldn't even necessitate the use of the Dauntless Vanguard—a small squad would have been enough.
Yet, Jarvan IV himself had chosen to personally handle the matter... and he even mentioned that he might need Shyvana's help?
Li Lin was utterly confused but continued to listen patiently as Andel recounted his story.
"That night, after a long day's work, we sat down to eat. My wife, Natalie, had baked some dark bread and made a stew with vegetables. It was meant to be a good day.
"As the sun set, I planned to do my usual patrol of the fields, but due to some border unrest, the village chief urgently called for a meeting. Natalie offered to handle the patrol in my place...
"It was my fault. I should never have let her go. That was my duty…"
Tears welled up in Andel's aged eyes as he wept like a child, overcome with guilt.
Jarvan IV quietly walked forward, placing a heavy, reassuring hand on Andel's shoulder. "This isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself any longer."
"P-Prince… Your Highness…"
Barrett sighed deeply, understanding Andel's pain.
He too had a wife and two daughters. "Love" was the bond that connected them.
If they were to suddenly disappear, Barrett knew he'd likely be more hysterical than the man before him.
Or worse—what if he were gone first? What would happen to them then?
The thought sent a shiver down Barrett's spine as he wondered why his mind had gone to such a dark place.
"I understand your pain, Andel," Barrett said sympathetically. "I also have a family. But right now, instead of blaming yourself, you must focus on finding them.
"Until we know the truth, we can't assume the worst. We must remain hopeful.
"Isn't that why you've come to seek the Prince's help?"
Barrett's words seemed to calm Andel. He wiped his face hastily, trying to contain his emotions. "You... you're right, Lord Buvelle…"
Jarvan IV nodded approvingly toward Barrett before retracting his hand. "Tell them what happened next, and give us every detail."
"That night, when I returned home, the house was completely dark. Natalie and our daughter, Quinn, weren't there. I thought maybe they had taken a longer route and would be home soon, so I didn't worry.
"But as the night grew later, and they still hadn't returned, I became anxious and hurried out to the fields to find them.
"Our fields aren't large, so I searched them seven or eight times with no sign of them. I even checked other people's farms…"
Andel's voice broke as he described his despair. "I kept telling myself maybe we had just missed each other. Perhaps they were already on their way back. But then I found this pendant in the field."
He pulled out a pendant shaped like a flame, carved from marble.
It was the symbol of The Illuminators, the only officially recognized religious order in Demacia.
The Illuminators were revered across Demacia for their charity work, often leaving their mark on the people they helped. Many who were rescued would wear a flame-shaped pendant to pray for peace.
"This is… from the Illuminators?" Barrett's eyes widened in recognition.
His lover, Lestara, had once been an Illuminator herself, and the Buvelle family had long been supporters of the order.
"Yes," Andel confirmed, his voice unsteady. "Our village was once aided by the Illuminators, so many of us have similar pendants.
"But this one… I gave it to Natalie at our wedding, and when Quinn was born, she passed it down to her."
Jarvan IV raised an eyebrow in surprise. "So, this is what you wanted to show me earlier?"
He had been interrupted by Alberk reporting the status of the prisoners and hadn't fully heard Andel's tale.
"Yes, Your Highness," Andel replied, carefully tucking the pendant back into his pocket. "Although many in our village have similar pendants, I carved this one myself. There's no way I could mistake it."
"And what happened next?" Jarvan asked, eyes narrowing. "You mentioned earlier that you believed dark sorcery was involved, but so far, I haven't heard anything suggesting a mage's involvement."
"I'm certain it was the work of a mage, Your Highness!" Andel's eyes blazed with a desperate conviction, his voice rising. "I… I heard my wife and daughter calling out to me!"
"You heard their voices?" Li Lin, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, unable to contain his curiosity.
"Yes! But their voices… they sounded strange. As though someone was choking them, forcing them to call for me. Their cries were hoarse, low, mixed with the eerie cawing of countless crows. It was… terrifying."
An expression of terror spread across Andel's face.
"I was furious," he continued, "and without thinking, I picked up a stone from the roadside and stealthily followed the sound of their voices into the forest.
"As I ventured deeper, I came upon a clearing… and there, in the distance, was a scarecrow, holding a lantern. The voices... they were coming from inside it."
Li Lin's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!"
"What's wrong?"
Jarvan IV, Shyvana, and Barrett were all startled by his sudden outburst, their gazes locking onto him.
Li Lin ignored them and strode forward with determined steps, stopping in front of Andel, his expression grim as he stared at him intently.
"You're talking about... a scarecrow?"
"Yes, a scarecrow!" Andel's fear and fury deepened, his emotions bordering on hysteria. "It was no ordinary scarecrow—it was imbued with dark sorcery! Magic from some sinister mage!"
"Calm yourself, Andel," Jarvan IV frowned, clearly concerned. The man had clearly endured too much, and now his mental state was crumbling.
But Li Lin's thoughts diverged from Jarvan's. A chilling realization crept into his mind.
Fiddlesticks.
But Fiddlesticks wasn't supposed to appear unless Sylas led a mage uprising, spreading fear throughout Demacia.
This moment... it wasn't supposed to happen for another seven years, even in the original timeline.
So, what's going on? Could the minor unrest along the border have triggered the arrival of the most terrifying ancient demon?
But then, there had been an explosion in Zaun not long ago, an incident far more fear-inducing than this, and Fiddlesticks hadn't shown up then.
Moreover, if Fiddlesticks truly was behind this, how had this man managed to escape its clutches?
Li Lin was at a loss, unable to piece it all together.
In the next second, a memory flickered in his mind—a song he'd once heard on Earth.
It was a ballad about Fiddlesticks, sung as a haunting duet between a mother and her daughter. The realization hit him all at once.
It wasn't fear that had summoned Fiddlesticks. It was the ballad. The ancient song, passed down in Demacia for centuries, had called it forth.
Although Fiddlesticks' name was never mentioned in the song, if Natalie knew it—this long-forgotten melody—it was likely that she had uttered its name, whichever name that might have been.
Other demons might reveal their vulnerabilities if called by name, but the ancient demons were different.
It didn't matter whether their true names were spoken or not. They would come, drawn to the voice of the caller, relentlessly.
And with the recent chaos at Demacia's borders, the land was already rife with fear. Summoning Fiddlesticks under such circumstances was all too easy.
As Li Lin wrestled with his thoughts, Andel continued, "I was going to investigate the scarecrow, but before I could, someone from the village saw me hurrying out. Fearing something had happened, they came looking for me."
"The village elder called out my name, and I turned to answer. But when I looked back, the scarecrow had vanished. That's how I know—this is definitely the work of a mage!"
"They've taken my Natalie and Quinn! They plan to use them in some wicked ritual!" Andel's voice cracked as he broke into tears once more. "Your Highness, Lord Buvelle, please—you must help me find my wife and daughter!"
Before Jarvan IV could respond, Li Lin interrupted, "Your Highness, may I have a word with you privately?"
"Of course."
Jarvan gave a brief instruction to Barrett before leading Li Lin to an adjacent room next to the war chamber, shutting the door behind them.
"When Andel mentioned the scarecrow, your reaction was... intense," Jarvan IV observed with curiosity. "Do you know something?"
"Your Highness, I strongly advise against going to Hengfeng Village," Li Lin said bluntly.
"Why?"
"Because they are dealing with a demon. One of the ancient ten—the embodiment of fear itself."
(End of Chapter)
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