The clash of steel and the roar of battle echoed across the Demacian plains.
Lux's heart pounded as she raised her staff, channeling a burst of light magic to shield a group of soldiers from an incoming volley of arrows. The familiar weight of her weapon was comforting, even as chaos swirled around her.
"Hold the line!" Garen's commanding voice cut through the din.
Lux caught a glimpse of her brother at the forefront, his massive sword cleaving through Noxian forces with practiced precision.
She couldn't help but flash back to another battle, not so long ago—Sylas and his mage rebellion.
The memory sent a chill down her spine, but she pushed it aside.
This was different.
This time, she fought alongside her people, not afraid to use her magic.
A nearby soldier stumbled, nearly overwhelmed by an enemy assault.
Lux sprang into action, her staff twirling as she cast a binding spell to immobilize the Noxian attacker.
"Thanks, Lady Crownguard," the soldier gasped, regaining his footing.
Lux offered a reassuring smile. "Stay strong!"
As she turned back to survey the battlefield, a nagging thought tugged at her mind.
I could do so much more, she mused, her fingers tingling with untapped power.
One big spell could turn the tide...
But even as the thought formed, she hesitated.
Though they call her The Champion of Light, the memory of fearful glances and whispered suspicions after Sylas's rebellion was still fresh. Demacia's wounds were still healing, trust slowly being rebuilt.
"Need some backup here!" Another soldier called out, snapping Lux from her reverie.
She nodded, rushing to assist.
As she wove a protective barrier of light, she made a conscious effort to keep it subtle, not too flashy.
Baby steps, she reminded herself. Show them the good in magic, little by little.
"Lux!" Garen's voice rang out.
She turned to see him gesturing urgently. "We need to regroup! Fall back to the ridge!"
"On it!" she called back, already moving to help coordinate the retreat.
As she ran, weaving spells of protection and illumination, Lux couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration.
She knew she had the power to do so much more, to potentially end this battle in one dazzling display.
But as she caught the grateful smiles of her fellow Demacians, soldiers who now fought alongside her without fear, she knew she had made the right choice. Trust, like her magic, would grow stronger with time and patience.
"Everyone, this way!" Lux called out, her staff blazing with a warm, reassuring light to guide their path. "Stay together!"
And as they regrouped, ready to face whatever came next, Lux felt a surge of hope. Demacia was changing, slowly but surely. And she would be there every step of the way, illuminating the path forward.
…
Okay… maybe she was thinking too fast.
Like a treacherous undercurrent, the tide of battle shifted.
Noxian forces were surging forward, their dark magic crackling with malevolent energy.
Lux's heart raced as she saw her brother and fellow soldiers being overwhelmed.
Lux's breath caught in her throat as she watched the Noxian forces advance. The dark magic swirling around them seemed to devour the very light, leaving shadows in its wake. Her fellow Demacians were being pushed back, their faces etched with exhaustion and fear.
"Garen!" she cried out, spotting her brother locked in combat with three Noxian warriors. His armor was dented, his movements slower than usual. Even the mighty Garen Crownguard couldn't hold out forever.
At that moment, Lux knew what she had to do. The consequences be damned. This was no time for caution.
"Everyone, shield your eyes!" she shouted, her voice ringing out across the battlefield.
Raising her staff high, Lux channeled every ounce of her power.
The air around her began to shimmer, particles of light coalescing into a blinding radiance. Lux felt the familiar rush of energy, but amplified tenfold.
This was her true strength, unleashed at last.
'Final Spark' was her ultimate spell.
A beam of pure, concentrated light erupted from her staff, cutting through the Noxian magic like a blade through smoke. The battlefield was bathed in a dazzling brilliance, forcing friend and foe alike to shield their eyes.
As the light faded, Lux lowered her staff, panting heavily. The Noxian threat had been obliterated, leaving stunned silence in its wake.
Relief washed over her.
"Garen!" she called out, searching for her brother.
But before she could spot him, rough hands seized her arms. A harsh and sinister voice whispered in her ear, "For the glory of Noxus."
Lux's eyes widened in horror as she realized her mistake. In her moment of triumph, she had lowered her guard.
Time seemed to slow as she felt, rather than saw, the buildup of magical energy. With lightning reflexes, she threw up a barrier of light around herself.
The world exploded into chaos. Through the ringing in her ears, Lux heard Garen's distant voice, shouting something she couldn't make out. Her vision blurred, darkness encroaching at the edges.
As consciousness slipped away, her last thought was a prayer: Light, protect them all.
Then, there was only blackness.