-"Are you sure you don't want a relic-stone weapon, Yue?"
-"Thanks, but I don't need it."
-"Well, Gwen wanted to make a Sentinel outfit for you. You won't refuse her, will you?"
-"Outfit? I don't mind, but I believe you called all of us here because of that."
-"Sadly. We confirmed that the mist has appeared over Mount Targon."
-"Are there no more Aspects? They can't even defend their scared mountain properly."
-"You speak like you know what defending means, Noxian butcher."
-"Irelia, we are allies now. Let bygones be bygones."
-"You are not one to speak about leaving the past alone, Vayne."
-"All of you stop. Time is not on our side. Let's go."
Using a portal in the Sentinels headquarters, we traveled to the foot of a steep mountain. Black mist surrounded the peak, which glowed with starlight, fighting against the corruption.
Sounds of combat could be heard from above. Sunlight would pierce the fog from time to time, along with shouts from soldiers.
-"The situation here is even worse than in Ionia."
-"In Ionia, land itself fought against the mist. While Targon is also stopping corruption, it's just not letting it approach, not actively helping to fight it off."
-"Fitting those unfeeling gods."
-"No other way than to go up."
-"Benares, be careful not to be shot down by defenders. I suggest you stay with us for now."
-"I'll listen to you, Ling."
-"Master, will there be a problem if you use your power here?"
-"There won't be an issue if I don't conflict with that celestial power."
-"We will prepare for all-out war with them then."
-"Nian, don't be like that. Yue will end it all with one move."
-"Can't wait to add this scene to my collection. Yae promised me my own exhibition during Festival of Hope."
-"I can always depend on you sisters to have my back."
-"Nah, we would rather take the front"
-"I couldn't agree more!"
-"Olaf, don't interrupt their flirt."
-"You don't understand, woman. Flirt is for weak, strong conquer."
-"I can see why you are single."
-"Heh, dare to take me on, Noxian?"
-"I might be a warrior, but fighting for fighting itself is not something that impressed me. I want to lay the sword down after atoning for my sins."
-"Butcher wants a redemption? Maybe you should seek all those you murdered among the wraiths and ask for their forgiveness?"
-"Irelia don't live in hatred."
-"It's easy for you to say, Yue. Your family wasn't murdered in cold blood by them."
-"You are right. I'm just saying it as an outsider."
-"Be on guard, guys. Someone is approaching."
Senna pointed her gun at the woman who emerged from behind a stone gate. She carried a crescent blade and had an aura of moonlight.
-"Stop. Who are you?"
-"We are Sentinels of Light."
-"Sentinels of Light? Then you are here because of the mist."
-"Yes. Can you let us pass?"
-"You wish to climb the mountain?"
-"Do we have another choice? Mist is up there."
-"Then allow me to lead your way."
-"Are you sure? Our destination is in the midst of that fog."
-"This place is my home. I'll not stand on the side and watch how it's invaded."
We began our climb while getting to know our guide. She was part of Lunari, a group of people who are treated as heretics on Targon. This resulted in us being stopped by Solari fanatics.
-"Heretic! How dare you climb a sacred mountain?!"
-"I'm here to fight against wraiths. Move out of the way."
-"I couldn't care less for traitor's purpose."
-"Diana, let me do it."
-"Yue? Please don't harm them."
-"Don't worry."
I moved toward Solari warriors and used Authority of Domination on them. The light in their eyes disappeared as they dropped to their knees. Moments later, I sealed their spirits, turning them into puppets.
Making them stand up, I read their memories using Path of Remembrance. Most of their recollections were useless, and only some techniques of Solari were interesting.
When all was done, everyone other than my Guards looked at me with warry eyes. Shaking my head, I continued to climb. For the rest of the walk, Sentinels and Diana kept their distance from me.
-"Someone is fighting at the peak. From their strength and aura, one of the fighters should be the master of the mist."
-"How does he compare to us?"
-"For Sentinels, he might prove challenging. For you, he alone is around Tomoe's strength."
-"Then allow me to fight him."
-"Cellinia? Well, I don't mind. How about the rest of you?"
-"He is yours."
-"Thanks."
-"Yue, what about Sentinels?"
-"Leave them be, Jeanne."
-"Right, if they doubt him because of his power, they don't deserve our help."
-"You also calm down, Kiyohime. Give them some time."
After continuing the climb for about an hour, we were able to reach the summit. On the top, two men were fighting. One wielded a green sword and was surrounded by black mist, while the other used a shield and spear.
Sentinels instantly recognized the man with the sword as Viego, the one causing the Ruination. Diana meanwhile identified another combatant as Atreus, a Host of the slain Aspect of war.
Cellinia unsheathed her swords and started walking toward Viego. She was noticed by the two fighters, but before they could do something, she rushed and joined the combat.
-"Jingliu, be ready to step in."
-"You think that Cellinia will lose?"
-"No, but that Atreus is in a similar state to Karma before."
-"I'll keep an eye on him."
-"Thanks. Hare, set a perimeter. Ling, take over the command of the defense."
-"You want us to defend this place, Yue?"
-"Something is calling me from there."
-"What?! How could this be?"
-"Diana?"
-"You feel the call from Targon Prime?"
-"I sense something from there."
-"You... Could you be some fallen Aspect?"
-"I'm not. Ling, you are in command until I come back. No matter who, no one can ascend."
-"Yes!"
-"Jingliu, take care of them."
-"Leave it to me, Master."
I nodded to the girls and passed through the gate.
On the other side, a city of gold and starlight greeted me. There were many powerful auras similar to gods here, but, in total, few beings lived here. Focusing on the feeling that called me here, I moved through the empty street.
I entered the shrine that burned with golden fire. Inside, there was an inferno burning everything that entered, but it never destroyed anything. That golden fire possessed so much energy of life that it basically was life in physical form.
In the middle, there was a figure from where the fire originated. A giant four-winged bird was perched upon a burning tree, looking at me with curious and happy eyes.
~"You... You are my brethren?"
-"I believe I'm not. But I feel closeness to you."
~"Yes. I can feel you are like me."
-"Why did you call me here."
~"I want you to become my Host."
-"I'm not mortal. My power is beyond yours."
~"I don't mind those... No. You could feel my call because you are not mortal."
-"Then why do you want me to become your Host?"
~"To not be alone again. I'm Immortal Flame. Even death can't end me, and I can feel that you are the same."
-"Indeed."
~"Then will you accept?"
-"...I'm not of this world."
~"I don't have an attachment to this world either."
-"Then I'll agree to an equal contract. I will give you a place upon my branches and in the sky."
~"Then I shall give you my power and follow you through eternity."
-"I, Yue, the Spirit of the World, agree to the covenant."
~"I, Celestial of Phoenix Constellation, agree to the covenant."
When we completed our accord, change appeared in the sky of Runeterra. Stars lit up, and soon, Phoenix Constellation burned with the same golden fire that the shrine. It soon came to life, and a bird with a wingspan greater than a star started flying in the starry sky.
At the same time, space suddenly shattered, and a Tree that covered the world appeared. The Phoenix flew toward the Tree and landed on one of the branches.
In Hold, changes also appeared. The shattering of space surprised everyone there, and when Phoenix landed on the branches, an alarm was about to be raised, but my avatar inside quickly stopped to stop the commotion.
Soon after, the space started mending, and the rift disappeared. The Phoenix flew into the air once more, and after finding a place in the sky, It once again turned into stars, forming the first constellation in my world, the Phoenix Constellation.
When the constellation was formed over the Hold, I also got the power of the Immortal Fire. It allowed me to use the golden flame, which possessed the power of rebirth and life. The power granted was powerful enough to form Battle Spirit, thus creating Phoenix as my third one.
The power also included the wisdom of the Celestial, and as being similar to a primordial god, the amount of knowledge was nothing to scoff at. Taking a few minutes to digest everything, I opened my eyes, which now glowed as if a fire burned at its depths.
~"Yue, give me a name."
~"Feng."~I spoke, locking eyes with the bird.-"You shall be known as Feng."
The bird burst into flame, sonn being consumed by it, only to reform into a human figure. The woman who emerged from the ashes possessed great similarity to my appearance, only much more feminine compared to mine rather androgynous look.
If I were to be pure beauty, she would represent the pinnacle of feminine beauty. Her hair was golden as fire burning around, and four wings were also growing from her back. She wore a dress created from flaming feathers, completing her look.
She approached me and bowed politely.
-"Please take care of me in the future, Yue."
-"Likewise, Feng."
Two of us left the Targon Prime, soon passing through the gate and returning to the summit of the Mount Targon. There, my Guards and Sentinels were no longer fighting the mist but rather Solari, who were trying to storm the peak.
On the side, Diana and Solari woman were engaged in a duel, fighting with all their powers but lacking any intent to harm their opponent. They were engaged in talk, constantly trying to convince the other to lay down their arms.
When the two of us emerged from the portal, Feng's aura made everyone stop their fights and turn to us. Feng looked around, recognizing my Guards from the knowledge she got from me after our covenant.
-"Ling, mind explaining what happened?"
-"After the sky shattered and your Tree showed, Solari, led by Leona, who fought there with Diana, arrived. They demanded we leave, and we refused. Rest is rather obvious."
-"Sigh. What about the mist?"
-"Atreus became corrupted, Viego took the artifact and ran away."
-"I was expecting that."
-"Yue, why are two sisters fighting?"
-"I can infer some things from my and your knowledge, Feng. Most likely, politics happened, and Lunari became an outcast while Solari ruled."
-"Daylight's Star and Evening's Star would never want to see their belivers fight like that."
-"What?"
Feng's words made Diana and Leona stop. Two of them then approached us.
-"What did you say?"
-"I said that Golden and Silver Sisters always stood by each other side, fighting against the Void."
-"How can you know that?"
-"Diana, this is Feng, Celestial of Phoenix Constellation."
-"Celestial?!"
-"Yes. Yue and I entered a covenant."
-"Then can you tell us about our Aspects?"
-"I don't mind."
Feng told some stories about two sisters. Both Solari and Lunari listened to her, looking at each other from time to time. The main tale about sisters was somewhat mundane, if not for describing Celestials. Twin sisters quarrel about their differences but unite in their similarities when the need arises.
-"Two of them descended in days of old and founded Solari and Lunari to uphold their convictions. The light of the sun to pierce every darkness. The glow of the moon to light every twilight."
-"Then our Celestials were not enemies, but humans used their names for profit?"
-"Yes."
This caused both Solari and Lunari present to contemplate their conflict.
-"If I may propose something. How about establishing a ceasefire in the conflict and seeking more information from the archives of both organizations?"
-"We can do it. Leona, what do you think?"
-"Yes."-Leona looked at me.-"Can you help us control the powers of our aspects?"
-"Yes."
-"Yue, are you speaking truth?"
-"I can seal your powers, take you to meet Celestials or teach you how to use those powers. What would you prefer?"
-"Meet the Celestials and later teach us."
-"I think the same as Diana."
-"Then what will you offer in exchange?"
-"This..."
-"..."
-"Sigh. Feng, can you take them to the Twins?"
-"OK."
-"Will you truly help us, Yue?"
-"Yes, but both Solari and Lunari are to become partners with the organization I come from. Later, I will bring someone to negotiate with you on the details."
-"I can agree to this."
-"Only if you won't ask us to betray our beliefs."
-"I won't force you."
-"Then I agree."
-"Good, Feng I'll wait here."
-"I'll return quickly"
Three of them returned to Targon Prime, while I explained what had happened to my Guards and Sentinels waiting nearby. We agreed to continue our cooperation and decided to return to Sentinels headquarters after Feng returned. For now, I started helping injured soldiers and repairing the battlefield.
-"Yue, can you revive someone with the power of Aspect?"
-"Irelia, I'll be direct. I can, but I won't."
-"Why?"
-"The life and death, by denying or changing them, you are going against nature. If I were to revive them, I would receive punishment for breaking the Taboo."
-"Is there truly no way..."
-"Sigh, after all of this ends, ask Karma to assist me with something."
-"What exactly?"
-"Trace their souls, as your family should be reincarnated by now. I will show you then what lives are they living now."
-"..."
I walked away from silent Irelia and passed next to Riven, who listened to our talk.
-"I don't know what you want to do with her, but remember, Irelia was not raised as a warrior. She became one from necessity."
-"I know."
-"Good. Take care of her then."
Riven nodded and walked to the lost silk dancer. Leaving two past enemies, I walked back to the summit. Feng had just returned, bringing Diana and Leona, whose auras had changed.
-"I can feel that your visit was fruitful."
-"Yes."
-"Jingliu, will you teach Diana in future?"
-"I don't mind."
-"Jeanne, Leona's style matches yours. Can you become her mentor?"
-"As you will, My Lord."
-"We will return here after ending our travels. For now, you should focus on Solari and Lunari."
-"We will."-Leona nodded.
Diana approached me and knelt.
-"I will never forget the help you provided us here."
-"It was a transaction."
-"True, but you resolved my greatest regret. From now on, my blade will strike every enemy you deem the target."
-"Are you sure to pledge your loyalty so quickly?"
-"Luanri lost their home long ago. Targon no longer can take us, and the moon looms over every land. I wish to lead my people to your organization and settle there."
-"I see that you've made your decision. So be it. I welcome you to the Hold."
-"Thank you, Lord."
Under the moonlit sky, Lunari found a new home.