"Do you think she'll lose her mind and go berserk just because you leave?" Lissandra worried about Anaakca's mental state.
"Anaakca can resist even the Watchers' whispers. She won't do anything I haven't ordered her to do. I've already told her to follow your orders while I'm away."
Aatrox remained brimming with confidence.
"If she poses a threat to you, I permit you to seal her in True Ice. Of course, that won't happen."
"...I'll trust you for now. With Anaakca's help, monitoring the Abyss seal will be much easier."
"Are you leaving now? It's already past noon. Why not rest at Frost Guard Fortress before setting out?" Lissandra suggested.
Do you think I can't hear what you're really getting at?
Ato felt that since coming to Runeterra, he'd gained a much deeper understanding of human nature. He could even read some of the thoughts of a ten-thousand-year-old Old Hag.
Even though this was a game world, things weren't as simple as they seemed.
Ato spoke with Aatrox telepathically. "Lissandra seems to believe us, but the barriers in her heart won't be so easy to break. She's a madwoman who'd kill everyone present to keep her secrets..."
"She truly feels guilty about her other two sisters. She truly wants to protect Runeterra. And she truly is capable of madness to keep her secrets. She's never been one to trust others easily."
As an ancient being who had also lived for thousands of years, Aatrox understood that well.
"I didn't expect you to see through her, little thing. She wants us to stay another day because she still doesn't trust Anaakca. If we refuse, the moment we leave, she'll seal Anaakca in True Ice."
"When we come back and ask about it, she'll say Anaakca tried to attack them. It's not as if we can prove otherwise..."
Ato was still confused. "If we stay at Frost Guard Fortress for another day, will she trust us? That seems too simple."
Aatrox explained, "Lissandra only believes what she sees with her own eyes. Anaakca's safe return from the bottom of the Abyss will ease the burden of monitoring it. Lissandra truly wants that help."
"We'll disappear inside the fortress for a whole day, while Anaakca stays outside. If she doesn't act rashly while she can't see me, Lissandra will be able to start believing what I've told her. At the very least, she won't seal Anaakca right away."
Then he added, "Just wait and see. Once we enter the fortress, Lissandra will find all sorts of reasons to keep us from leaving. We won't appear before Anaakca for at least a day."
Seeing Ato's expression shift as he remained silent for a long time, Lissandra asked again, "Well? Will you consider my suggestion?"
Only then did Ato give it serious thought. If we stay here another day, we'll still have plenty of time to reach Noxus in the south.
It's been a month since we left the Siren and came to Freljord. Another half-month and it'll be 984. Noxus will need time to prepare for war, so they probably won't set out right at the New Year...
Having made up his mind, Ato readily agreed. "That's an excellent suggestion. After we finished our deal, we went straight into the mountains to awaken Anaakca, so we haven't had a chance to look around Frost Guard Fortress. A night's rest sounds like a good idea."
He then ordered Anaakca to keep watch over the Howling Abyss outside the fortress, but she didn't respond.
Ato: "..."
Did she have to be so rigid? He could completely control the Demonic Sword of the Dark... How could he be unable to command one of its underlings?
From within the Sword Sheath, Aatrox spoke. "Anaakca, keep an eye on the Abyss here. If anything happens, report it to the Frostguard or Lissandra."
Anaakca bowed her head deeply. "Yes... Commander..."
Ato: "..."
Who was still questioning the weight of Commander Aatrox's title...
That old relic Lissandra's kept secrets for ten thousand years. No wonder she's developed a suspicious streak like Meng De's, Ato grumbled inwardly.
Lissandra secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This was exactly how she'd hoped things would unfold.
Talking with an intelligent person really was easy. It seemed Ato not only had great fighting ability, but was capable in other areas too. He wasn't some hotheaded brute who only knew how to fight.
Perhaps she could work with him on matters beyond the Void in the future...
With each harboring their own schemes, the two walked through the fortress gates under the watchful eyes of the silent Frostguard.
Anaakca stood on Stone Bridge, gazing into the Abyss like a statue.
The Noxian capital, the Immortal Fortress, the Royal Palace.
Boram Darkwill sat on the emperor's throne, dressed in luxurious robes and wearing a stern expression. His gaze was calm as he watched the east through the floor-to-ceiling window.
Below the steps of the throne, many ministers waited. No one dared disturb the emperor's thoughts.
Outside the fortress, whenever the capital's citizens passed by and saw the building, they couldn't help but marvel at it.
The Immortal Fortress stood at the very center of the capital. It was also the tallest building in the entire city.
It consisted of three enormous triangular stone pillars, gray-white throughout and imbued with a solemn grandeur.
A popular legend claimed that the Immortal Fortress had existed before the nation was founded. The ancestors of the Noxians had taken refuge there to escape disaster. Those who survived emerged from the fortress and built what was now Noxus, step by step.
The Immortal Fortress had originally been the name of that magnificent structure. As the city gradually expanded, the Noxian ancestors simply made it the imperial capital and named the city after the fortress.
Any citizen with a little knowledge could see that the Immortal Fortress stood at the heart of Valoran, in a place of great strategic importance.
Three major rivers converged there, and the sea lay not far to the east. These advantages allowed Noxus to rapidly send troops to the front lines.
Combined with its relatively open policies for recruiting talent, this made it nearly impossible for any nation on Valoran to stand against it.
Darkwill withdrew his gaze and looked down at the ministers. Turning to the burly minister second from the right, he asked, "Du Kuor, how are the navy's preparations coming along?"
"This will be an overseas campaign. I've reviewed the shipyard's plans, and two more large warships will soon be ready to launch. We must keep up with the recruitment of crews."
The general known as Du Kuor stepped out of the line of ministers and placed his right hand over his chest. "Your Majesty, our army has been training for two and a half years. They're already accustomed to the sea."
"Recruitment drives have continued across the country without pause. The terms we offer are generous, so many people are willing to enlist."
"After another month or two, when the weather warms up, the new recruits will have finished their training. That will be the ideal time to set out."
"Excellent." Darkwill nodded slightly. "I now appoint you commander-in-chief of this eastern campaign. In two months, lead the army to war."
"May Your Majesty's radiance illuminate the world." Du Kuor bowed deeply to Darkwill and accepted the appointment.
"By the way, have there been any reports from Zaun? With the expedition about to begin, if we can find that 'Alchemist' again, it will give us another powerful guarantee of victory." Darkwill asked casually.
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