Along the tranquil corridor, the soft glow of magical lanterns illuminated the path.
A woman, bearing an unusual staff, hummed an unknown melody as she walked under the flickering lights. Suddenly, as if sensing something, she abruptly halted.
"Hmm? This aura... is it the youthful goddess? Has she perished?" Sivir expressed her surprise at the revelation. "Could it be that she sustained irreparable injuries while sealing that old scoundrel Xerath? Has she finally succumbed?"
"Oh dear... this is quite troublesome. With the death of the youthful goddess, won't her two lackeys go mad? Moreover, what kind of essence will manifest from her death? Hmm, a goddess of despair and sorrow—surely such a divine essence cannot yield anything good! Alas, this is a grave situation; if I do not leave soon, I may truly find myself trapped here." Just as Sivir quickened her pace, she stopped once more.
"Ah... it seems misfortune has struck me again. Is today my unlucky day?" She sighed, gazing at the three figures that appeared around the corner. With a weary greeting, she said, "Good afternoon, esteemed lords of Noxus... well, it should be afternoon, right?"
"Lady Sivir?" Upon seeing her, the three also paused, observing the woman before them, who appeared as if disturbed from a slumber. Darius narrowed his eyes slightly. "What brings you here?"
"What brings me here? Ah! What a splendid question!" Sivir clapped her hands and exclaimed, "I too wish to know why I am here."
"..." After a few seconds of silence, ignoring her jesting, Darius spoke solemnly, "Lady Sivir, you are aware of our declaration from Noxus, are you not?"
"Are you referring to the statement that 'any force or individual that trespasses upon this pyramid will face the full wrath of Noxus'? Oh dear, must you be so heartless? We are old friends, after all. When your esteemed generals went missing, I assisted Noxus on several occasions. Could you not show me some leniency and leave me a way out?" Sivir yawned and said, "One should leave a thread of hope for future encounters."
"At that time, we hired you with our gold, which is why you assisted us. And when you accepted the payment, why did you not leave a thread of hope then?" Darius remained silent, but the sharp-tongued Katarina interjected with sarcasm.
"Uh... Miss Katarina, must you be so calculating? A mere few thousand gold coins? You Noxians are wealthy enough to spare a little from your coffers, enough for us poor mercenaries to live well for years. Why fuss over such a trivial amount?" Sivir chuckled awkwardly.
"Very well, in light of your past assistance to Noxus, we shall not pursue this matter further," Darius stated. "However, you must relinquish that staff on your back. Of course, Lady Sivir, I understand that you must have exerted great effort to obtain it. Noxus is not ungrateful to its allies. As long as you hand over the staff, we will compensate you adequately for your loss."
Yet upon hearing Darius's terms, Sivir burst into a melodic laugh. "Hehe... I see, so it is indeed about the Staff of Time that both Demacia and Noxus seek."
"Is the relic of the magical god Xerath truly so alluring?" She tilted her head, curiously assessing the three. "So much so that you would issue a declaration that offends nearly every nation on the Valoran continent?"
"If we could disregard the Staff of Time, a relic left by the magical god, our strength in Noxus would have long been sufficient to unify the entire continent," Darius replied, narrowing his eyes. "Moreover, Lady Sivir, are you not here for the same staff?"
"Hehe... not quite," she said, playfully raising a finger and shaking it. "While I have indeed come for the staff, my reasons for obtaining it differ entirely from yours."
"I have no doubt about that, for you were once the goddess of war. As a deity, your perspective undoubtedly diverges from us mere mortals, and your understanding of the Staff of Time far surpasses ours." Darius inclined his head slightly.
"Oh? You are aware of my identity?" Sivir tilted her head in surprise and amusement, covering her mouth with a smile. "It seems that old Darkwill has been quite generous with his insights, sharing matters even between deities. But since you know my identity, you must also be aware of the unique ability of deities to preserve their lives, correct?"
"Knowing this, you dare to stand before me? Are you not afraid I might summon my full divine power and annihilate you all?" Sivir smiled, tilting her head.
"This is the resting place of the youthful goddess and the core of her seal on the magical god Xerath. The time and space within this pyramid are utterly chaotic and disordered," Darius calmly dismantled her threat. "You cannot summon either your future or past self here."
Slightly frustrated, Sivir ran her fingers through her hair and sighed, "This is precisely why I detest Darkwill, that gossiping fool who spreads tales among the gods. It leaves me unable to intimidate even a mere mortal. How vexing."
"Alright, alright, it's just the Staff of Time. If you want it, take it. After all, I don't particularly need it... It's not as if I can't manage without it. What's the big deal? I, Sivir, will surely be the first to restore all my divine power, even without the staff." Grumbling to herself, Sivir finally removed the staff from her back.
At that moment, a deep voice echoed from the depths of the corridor, reciting in a tone reminiscent of a solemn incantation, imbued with an air of mysterious profundity.
"Life is but a part of the cycle. And your part has come to an end."
As the recitation concluded, a towering figure emerged from the corridor behind Sivir. Like a divine emissary walking among mortals, the imposing dog-headed being held a green staff, approaching with a proud and indifferent demeanor.
"How dare you steal from the goddess, Sivir! Your death will be weighed by her!" The staff pointed accusingly at the woman standing in the center of the corridor, as Nasus coldly delivered his merciless decree.