Light Upon the Shadows

Kiersta waited behind a pillar, raising her eyebrows as the Widowmaker’s voice echoed through the room. Evelynn was her last choice to summon from the Shadow Isles. The creature was ever devious, willing to help with nearly anything… for a price. Kiersta had no doubt that many in the institute were indebted to her, but the unannounced invasion by the shadow islands had been a crushing blow to the best-trained military on Runeterra. There were no demands made, no reasons given for the attack, and since the its end, they had met only silence. The League needed to know what it was facing, no matter the cost. For the moment, she held silent, curious as to whether Evelynn would give any tell of her intentions with the councilor’s presence.

The platinum-robed summoner that Evelynn singled out widened his eyes in both shock and fear, involuntarily taking a step backwards even before the Widowmaker’s taunt. His legs quivered as he frantically searched the room for an answer, sputtering half-hearted attempts at a response. “N-No we… we only meant-”

“Hold!” The summoners foot stopped mid-step, hovering over the shimmering magic of the summoning circle. Moving any farther would break the grasp of defensive magics called upon by the summoning ritual. “You cannot harm us from there, demon.” The voice spat the word. “You’re here to answer our questions.” If Evelynn should turn, she would note that the summoner who spoke out wore diamond-bordered robes, his hood shielding his face from view. He held himself in a pose of authority befitting his experience, and the others seemed to draw strength from his resolve.

The Diamond summoner held his ground, a sneer of contempt the only visible feature on his face. “Semantics. You can play your games with words, but we know the monster you are.” He held hand toward the circle, slowly gathering his power before making a flicking motion, as though shaking water from his fingertip. A fierce red hew spread from his body, overtaking the blue summoning magic as an unpleasant hum became prevalent in the room. “Thousands dead for nothing more than living in their city… I’d advise you start telling us why.”

Kiersta had hoped to gain an advantage over Evelynn by remaining hidden at the moment of her summoning: some insight into how she treated other summoners, a hint as to where she’d been, perhaps even a connection to the invasion itself. But as always, the Widowmaker kept herself well guarded - hinting at knowledge both known and supposed. She sighed lightly, composing herself fully to face the temptress. Waiting any longer might lead these two to blows.

“That is enough.” At the commanding tone of her voice, the summoners each straightened, both the threatening hum and red glow around Diamond ranked summoner ceasing instantly. Kiersta’s footsteps rang across the stone floor as she revealed herself, arms folded calmly behind her back. “As per the laws of the summoning magic that we employ, Evelynn is here as a guest and nothing more. You had best remember that in the future, summoner.” While anger still showed on his face, the diamond summoner bowed his head at the reprimand.

Kiersta approached the summoning circle casually, a thoughtful calm written across her face. “Leave us now. We will have our discussion in private.”

The summoners all startled, hesitating despite the order. It was the frightened platinum summoner who gave voice to all their concerns. “But… If we leave…” The implication was clear: without summoners in position, the barriers they had constructed as protection would fall, leaving those in the room at the Widowmaker’s mercy. Kiersta merely raised her eyebrows, a hint of amused irritation at the disobedience. In unison, all five summoners lowered their hands and the blue glow of active magic subsided. The began to shuffle out of the room, heads low to avoid eye contact with both the Widowmaker and the High Councilor.

Kiersta remained stoic as she was left alone with a champion named after her gruesome habits. As Evelynn addressed her, she raised an eyebrow. “You’re here of your own will.” She gestured toward the entrance, “If you don’t wish to be, you may take your leave. Yet I have no doubt you have some inkling as to what I wished to discuss.” She folding her arms behind her back once more standing tall now at the center of the swirling magics of the summoning room. “I am Kiersta Mandrake, High Councilor and Co-founder of the Institute of War for which you have fought for so long." She let out a low sigh before continuing. "And I find myself in need of information. That man, the diamond summoner you describe as rude, is not alone in his views. News of the attacks on Demacia has spread across the Valoran, and with it fear and hatred of the unliving. Even the Sad Mummy has seen harassment for the actions of those he has no knowledge of. I’m sure that even you may have trouble satiating your more… lascivious habits. What we need to know is what this attack means to the rest of the rest of the world. Where did this Ruined King come from that he commands the might of the Shadow Isles, and what is it that he seeks from the living? To what end would he launch an attack on Demacia and make his strength known to the world? I suspect that some of this is known to you.”

A needed man is a happy negotiator, she mused to herself. What was it that an apex predator of man could desire… wealth? Blood sport? “You yourself have said you have no problems getting what you want, Evelynn.” She turned on her heel, making her way toward the entrance of the chamber. “If you truly have nothing to gain from us, you need not follow me.” She did not turn as she left, doubting that she could see the Widowmaker even if she had. There was no doubt that Evelynn savored the occasional challenge. A class of novice summoners made their way in the opposite direction. Kiersta made eye contact with the instructor, then gave a curt nod, passing on without a word.

Her footsteps echoed loudly and alone in the winding halls of the Institute, their ringing punctuating her words as she spoke again in a low murmur. “As you say, knowledge is power, and I should it is best that none give up any power without purpose. There are others in these halls who may not know how best to use it.”

Kiersta fought the instinct to wince at the voice in her ear. She had no doubt at all that the Widowmaker would follow, but knowing she was there to strike at any moment was different from hearing that dark laughter. “We have the knowledge of the Institute, the power of the summoners, and the political goodwill of… much of valoran. We could make known your goodwill toward our kind, or we could guard it closely. I should expect that our survival of the Ruined King’s rage is within your goals as well.” And if not, then you’ve told me much regardless.

It was a dangerous game the two were playing, but Evelynn’s continued presence told her much of what she needed to know: withholding information was worth little to her. She turned a corner, the arcane glow of the high summoner’s offices suddenly looming before them. “You know what it is that we want, so tell me: how much is the information worth to you?”