The Separation of Two Lovers

I don't know who Azanus is; he might have appeared in the illusion, but I can't remember all of the more than one hundred Ascended. 👺✊ 🎀👌

Azanus heard Azir's call, looked at him in confusion, then shook his head and launched another attack!

Azir easily blocked the attack; he had already been weakened too much by Sivir's Golden Light.

However, Azanus did not give up. Despite the difficulties, he persisted in attacking. Strangely, he only attacked Azir and showed no interest in Sivir beside him.

Of course, this doesn't mean Sivir wasn't interested in him. As the Golden Light intensified, Azanus finally lost his ability to move, slumping to the ground, still muttering "Ajahn, Ajahn..."

After a while, Azanus showed no signs of recovery; he was simply unable to move due to the Golden Light. Azir finally decided to leave.

"Since even Khopesh's light can't revive him, let's leave and not disturb him."

We left quickly, Azanus did not chase after us. Once out of the Golden Light, his skin darkened again.

"Who is he? Why haven't I seen him in the illusion?" Sivir asked Azir.

"Perhaps the artist forgot about him. I've heard people mention this Rift Guardian before..." Azir told us on the way back.

Azanus was born in Naremajet and was formerly a subordinate of Aatrox. He participated in the Void War and survived.

After Aatrox led the group to seal the void rift, he was still uneasy and wanted to find someone to guard the place. Ordinary soldiers could not survive there, and only Ascended could take on the responsibility. At this time Azanus volunteered to stay.

His ascension posture was originally a combination of cheetah and human, but something happened over the past two thousand years that turned him into his current form.

After the Void War, the royal family strictly forbade their bloodline to approach Icathia, and could only learn about the war through illusions, which is why Azir never saw him.

Azanus, of course, did not recognize Azir, so he was only somewhat confused when facing him, but did not stop his attack.

As for why he didn't attack Sivir, it's probably because deep down he still harbored feelings of longing for the Ascended Empress.

"Once I have fully mastered the Ascended Power, I will definitely come to help him regain his sanity!" Sivir made up her mind.

I felt much lighter after leaving the scorched earth of Icathia; the environment there was just too oppressive!

Azir planned to return to the rebuilt Sun City to find the Nasus brothers, Sivir also wanted to leave with him, but I persuaded her to stay.

"You should stay with us for now."

"What's wrong? You really can't bear to part with me?"

"No, that's not it. I just want to gather all the dreamers together so we can sit down and discuss it. Maybe we'll discover something!"

"Hmm... alright, I know you're just making up this excuse because you're embarrassed, so I'll reluctantly agree. Riven doesn't mind, right?"

"Whatever." Riven uttered two words coldly.

I'm really wondering what's wrong with her. Ever since she lost to Azanus, she's been looking downcast. She wasn't like this before.

Losing to Ascended isn't shameful, and none of us were injured. It seems we should find some time to have a talk with her.

Lucian doesn't plan to travel with us; he intends to return to Bilgewater to continue monitoring the Shadow Isles and investigating the situation there. I conveniently had him inform Gangplank to head to Piltover, where we'll all meet.

And so, Azir and Lucian left, while the rest of us headed straight to Piltover to find Camille and make that our meeting point.

On the way, Darius and Jarvan chatted about governing the country, Sivir and I laughed and talked, while Shvana and Riven silent, quietly following behind.

Three days later, we arrived at a small port in northern Shurima, and after a short voyage, we reached Zaun.

We boarded a passenger ship, but due to weather conditions, our departure was delayed by a day, so we took the opportunity to rest.

That evening, we were chatting in the cabin when Sivir brought up Riven's situation, mentioning that everyone had witnessed her struggles over the past few days.

"Yasuo, what's wrong with Riven?"

"I don't know either. I've been trying to talk to her for the past few days, but she keeps avoiding me."

"Then go now. She's on the deck enjoying the breeze by herself. Maybe she'll open up to you if we don't bother her."

"Thank you for your concern."

I got up to go find Riven, Sivir stopped me. "Wait, remember to say something nice, don't always act like a fool, girls don't like that!"

I went up to the deck but didn't see Riven. Everyone was just watching the sunset here a moment ago, how could she have disappeared in such a short time?

I searched the ship, but I couldn't find her for a long time. The ship wasn't very big, and Riven wouldn't wander around other cabins. Where could she have gone?

I suddenly had a bad feeling and asked the captain to help me search, but he and his men also couldn't find a white-haired woman.

At this moment, Sivir came out. "Why is it still not over after I asked you to talk? Hmm? Why are you all alone?"

"Riven is missing."

"What did you say?" Sivir, sounding a little anxious.

"I couldn't find her, and even asking the crew to help search didn't work." At this point, I calmed down because I figured Riven had already left.

"How could she have disappeared? She must still be on the ship, it's just hard to find her at night."

After saying that, Sivir threw the Khopesh upwards, instantly creating a small sun that illuminated the surroundings as if it were daytime.

This caused quite a stir. The night had suddenly turned into daytime, which would be strange to anyone. Darius and Jarvan heard the commotion and ran out as well.

At that moment, I noticed a mark on the deck, left by a motorcycle.

"Take back Khopesh, Riven is gone."

"Why did you give up so easily? Look again carefully!"

I pointed out the marks left by the motorcycle to Sivir, which made her turn her attention away. The people around us gradually dispersed, leaving only a few of us.

Why did Riven leave? Could it be because of me? Is she jealous but too embarrassed to say it?

"No, she's not that kind of person."

"Did you offend her?"

"It's because of Ryze. He said that being together would hinder each other's improvement."

I finally remembered the root cause of Riven's change; she didn't become taciturn because she lost to Azanus.

Ever since we met Ryze in the desert, she's become quite quiet. I was so focused on the alliance at first that I didn't pay much attention, and now I'm only realizing it now.

Although I didn't agree with Ryze's idea at the time, I'm afraid Riven took it to heart, which is why I chose to leave alone!