Taking the Stage

Just as Tiana had expected.

Jiawen III had ultimately accepted the nobles' petition, albeit reluctantly, and agreed to preside over the duel himself.

As for why he hadn't forcibly stopped the duel—perhaps the nobles had made too much noise, or perhaps he simply hadn't been all that willing to stop it. Who could say?

Perhaps to prevent any mishaps, he had also brought along his steward, Xin Zhao, to serve as the duel's judge.

This choice suggested that, at the very least, he didn't want anything to happen to Lux.

As with the engagement ceremony, nearly every noble of any renown in Demacia's Imperial Capital had come to watch the duel—even the Bishop of Light, who had presided over the engagement ceremony, was in attendance.

It was no exaggeration to say that the duel's outcome would determine the political winds in Demacia City for a long time to come!

Tradition dictated that the duel begin at nine, but by eight, the spectator seats in the Duel Hall were already full.

As a result, Lux and Fiora, the two participants, were the last to arrive.

Come to think of it, this was Lux's first time in the Duel Hall.

This ancient building, completed at the same time as the Dawn Citadel, had once served as the place where Demacian nobles resolved disputes and arbitrated conflicts.

In terms of history, its significance even surpassed that of Demacia's first written code of law.

Yet over the long years, as the divide between nobles and commoners grew ever wider, fewer and fewer nobles had used the hall, wary of disturbing the appearance of harmony.

And today, this long-silent hall would finally welcome two young duelists.

In the challenger's preparation room, Lux changed into lightweight armor with the help of an attendant.

The armor was made primarily of rune steel. Its plates weren't especially thick, and after being finely forged, they were layered in places and joined with metal wire. The result was light and comfortable, offering ample protection without restricting the wearer's movements.

Without compromising its function, the armor's craftsmen had also given it a simple polish and adorned many of its finer details with the Crown Guard family crest. In the past, Lux might have fallen in love with the armor at first sight, but now, she felt only that its weight was greater than she'd expected.

Lux's silence left the attendant helping her into the armor too afraid to speak. Lux was usually quite approachable, but when she grew serious, the people around her instinctively fell silent.

As a result, the attendant's silence and apprehension only made Lux feel worse.

In the end, she could only force a smile and tell the attendant she could leave, as Lux needed a little time to prepare. Then, after the attendant had carefully slipped out of the room and gently shut the door, Lux dropped into a chair and let out a long breath.

"I really feel like I should leave for a while now," Lux said to Karya, sounding somewhat helpless. "Some things, once you know about them, you can never pretend you don't see."

"What you need now is to clear your mind." Karya didn't take up that topic. "Your duel is about to begin. This is your final exam, so give it your best. Don't embarrass your teacher!"

"It's hard to put my mind at ease." Lux shook her head, looking a little helpless. "How about this, Karya—sing me a song!"

"Sing?"

"Yeah!" Lux took a deep breath. "You told me that before Setaqa went to fight for her people, the children who couldn't take part would sing for their Big Sister. Setaqa would tend to her weapons to the sound of their singing, then head to the battlefield."

"..."

"This is my first duel, so I guess I'm heading to the battlefield too, right?"

"..."

"Sing me a song too!" Lux smiled. "Something cheerful!"

"Something cheerful?" Karya thought it over, then finally agreed to Lux's request. "All right—let's sing my favorite, 'Walking into the Yellow Sand.'"

As Karya sang, Lux drew her sword and gave it one last careful polish.

?Shurima's fierce winds stir the yellow sand; soft veils drift above the river; Setaqa stands upon the riverbank, her Cross Blade reflecting the morning light?

After wiping the blade clean, Lux sheathed her sword and stood to warm up. As she moved, the rune steel armor on her body clinked.

?Setaqa stands upon the riverbank, her Cross Blade reflecting the morning light?

Lux took a deep breath and stopped thinking about the problems that had been troubling her. She simply gripped the hilt of her sword—gripped Karya.

?The children sing a beautiful song; they sing of the glory of civilization; they sing of their revered leader, and long to grow up soon?

Lux exhaled the air in her lungs, then picked up her helmet. She breathed on it and used the leather covering of her skirt armor to polish it until it shone.

?They sing of their revered leader, and long to grow up soon?

Lux put the helmet on, covering her pinned-up golden hair. She blew upward and tucked the last loose strands into the helmet.

?Ah, let this song, this song of children, fly with the bright sun; go to the soldiers at the distant frontier, and carry the children's greetings?

At last, the bell announcing the start of the duel rang out. Lux walked calmly to the door and pushed it open.

?Go to the soldiers at the distant frontier, and carry the children's greetings?

Bright sunlight shone on Lux's young face, turning her eyes the color of sapphires and making her long eyelashes glisten.

?The young warriors follow their leader, their hearts filled with boundless hope; the flame of civilization has been kindled, and none can defeat Shurima?

Lux raised both hands to greet the spectators, then smiled toward her mother and aunt. Her smile was full of confidence.

?The flame of civilization has been kindled; none can defeat Shurima?

Jiawen III declared the duel underway. Lux pressed her lips together, took the dark red pigment from an attendant, and smeared it beneath her eyes.

?Shurima's fierce winds stir the yellow sand; soft veils drift above the river; Setaqa stands upon the riverbank, her Cross Blade reflecting the morning light?

Under the watchful eyes of all the nobles, she finally drew her sword and assumed a stance from Shurima Basic Swordsmanship, facing Fiora.

?Setaqa stands upon the riverbank, her Cross Blade reflecting the morning light?

The bell rang again. As Fiora stepped forward and extended her arm, the duel—one that put the honor of two families on the line—officially began.