The heart of Noxus


The Noxian Empire was built in strength, in order for progress to occur there must be first a string action to start it.

And ever since Swain had gotten into power those principals had been reinforced.

Long gone were the insanity and greed of the Boram Darkwill rule, replaced by the calculating plans of Swain, the brute strength of Darius and the manipulation of the Black Rose to the masses.

Manipulation not just to Noxus, but to the other countries.

Diplomacy one might call it.

A tedious affair to be sure and in Swain's opinion utterly useless.

After all his actions spoke louder than any word said in a room filled with people who cared little for the lesser men.

He had once been the lesser man, left to die in a continent that wanted his head more than anything else.

To say that he had resentment to the upper class would be a lie.

So he could only scoff at the small pamphlet given to him by LeBlanc

"A dance?" he said as he quickly turned the small paper into a ball, demonic energy quickly burning it.

"Not just a dance my dear megalomaniac, the Peace Dance"

"I still fail to see how giving it a pompous title would change anything"

"Spending too much times scheming and planning has costed you outside vision"

Swain snorted.

"It certainly hasn't, enemy lines remain as guarded as ever"

"Yes enemy, meaning all threats, but what if something of goodwill came from outside the borders"

Swain stopped looking at the reports and leaned back on his chair.

"They would have to filtered and someone would have or in this case should have informed me"

"What if they didn't care for the message that they sent you?"

"Enough with questions today has been stressful and I do not wish to waste time in idle chit chat"

LeBlanc smirked.

"Are you saying you don't enjoy my presence?"

"Today no and from what I recall you also don't, so this means you find enjoyment in annoying me"

"Fair enough, Darius got wind that the Noxian high command was invited to this Peace Dance, held by Piltover, all of the powerful nations would be invited, with the exception of Zaun"

"And Darius, didn't tell me because?"

"You know how he thinks, must have seen it as useless, so he didn't bother you"

"I agree with him for once, any Noxian who walked into Piltover would just have a giant target on their backs"

"So you are dismissing it"

"Of course I fail to see how it would benefit the empire"

"Connections my dear, imagine allegiances you could form"

Swain let out a chuckle.

"So desperate to get me out of the empire? If I leave, you would start to move strings like the control freak that you are, I'm not dumb enough to fall for that, you insult me"

"I know you are not Jericho, so that's why I am letting you in on a little secret, I would have loved to go, meet the people there, start to make new… friendships, but sadly I can't"

"And why is that?"

"That's for you to decide"

"… you are admitting that when I leave you would start to pull strings and it would take me a while to untangle them"

LeBlanc smiled "You said when"

"Putting things into perspective, I need the information, or in this case the power that would make you afraid"

"You won't find it of that I am sure"

Swain smirked "But what if I do"

"Expect an extra messy return Swain, it will take you months to untangle the web I will leave"

The leader of the Black Rose stood and turned to leave.

"I don't suppose you have and extra pamphlet do you?"

The only response he got was a something being thrown his way.

He heard the loud slam of a door and smiled.

"Made a mistake my dear, in your hurry to get me out of the city you may have revealed something to me that you will live to regret, well the time you have left anyways"

Swain stood from his seat and looked for the small piece of paper.

Gold, like almost everything in Piltover.

He rolled his eyes at the thing as he unfolded it carefully.

"The Peace Dance, bringing all the nations together" it proudly stated in big shiny silver letters.

Swain started to read and found himself frowning more and more as he looked at the nations that would be in there.

Demacia.

A nation of superstitious brutes.

Piltover.

Stuck up aristocrats with way too much time on their hands.

Shurima.

He could almost laugh, who would come to represent the big waste of space?

Bilgewater

Bad hygiene, smelled like fish, his expectations were not high.

Freljord

Now that was interesting, which of the two factions would show up? Maybe both? That would be a sight.

And lastly Ionia.

His hand started to itch.

He quickly suppressed the feeling and reclined back into his chair.

No peace could be had without the nation of harmony, the pamphlet said.

Swain actually let out a small laugh at that one.

"Harmony is the last thing that place has right now"

He knew that ever since Noxus little visit the country had been split in half those still respected and followed the ways of old and those who wished to fight.

Swain looked at the last part of the pamphlet.

Not confirmed visitors.

Noxus: we hope that you accept our invitation with open arms, we assure you, only good can come if you trust Piltover.

Swain remained quiet for a moment, he had already made a decision the only thing that was missing was making preparations.

He would inform his loyal subordinates about his departure, they needed to be alert in case of any abnormalities in the structure of the empire, he also would send someone to inform Darius that he was leaving.

His passive aggressive way of telling him to inform him next time, he would have loved to have more time to prepare that was certain.

Swain let out a small whistle and a bird that had been sleeping peacefully in its cage awoke.

The bird quickly made its way to Swain's outstretched hand.

"Beatrice, keep an eye on The Immortal Bastion, if something happens, tell me, you know how"

The bird's eyes sparked red and it quickly flew out of the window making its way to the Immortal Bastion.

With that issue solved Swain let out a small sigh.

Only travel plans to take care of now


As the waves crashed into the ship and the rain refused to stop the captain of the ship could only remain tense at the situation at hand.

Traveling to Piltover was no rare thig for him, but it was not every day that THE Jericho Swain, requested (demanded) to travel in your ship.

So until the Grand General was out of his ship, he would not rest.

Nothing could go wrong.

He motioned to his youngest passenger.

A small orphan girl trying to become the captain of her own ship one day.

"OI! Come here you weak no-body!"

She had to start from the bottom, he though with a smirk, he didn't hate her, he just wanted to form her into a proper captain.

"Yes captain?"

"Go tell our special guest that we will arrive in half hour, do it fast!"

"Yes sir" she told him as she disappeared into the ship, he could already see the city, its shining lights illuminating the rainy night sky.

Shortly after he heard footsteps behind him.

"He asks for your presence" the girl told him innocently as if it wasn't a big deal.

He swallowed nervously.

"Only me?"

"Yes"

Oh dear, his men had orders to stop in Piltover so if he died there would be no inconvenience to the Grand General.

He needed a shield.

The Captain looked down to the girl.

"Follow me girl, it would be rude of the messenger to not be there once the message has been delivered"

As they walked inside the ship he felt his worry increase with every step he took.

They finally arrived at the door.

The captain knocked gently.

"Come in"

He pushed the girl forward and opened the door, hoping that she would catch that he wanted her to go first.

She shrugged and walked inside, followed shortly by the captain.

"You wished to see me?"

"Yes, I wished to thank you for your services, they have been most appreciated"

"T-Thank you my lord"

"Once we arrive you will remain in the dock ready to leave at a moment's notice, is that all right with you?"

"But… no, there is no problem my lord"

"Good and now if you would excuse me I wish to prepare something for my… night"

"Of course my lord, you will be informed once we arrive"

The captain left quickly almost forgetting that there was another person in the room besides him and the general.

He almost closed the door on her.

"HEY!"

"Quiet!"

He closed the door slowly and as he walked outside he could only thank the heavens that he was alive.

"So are we staying in Piltover?"

"Yes"

"Can I go explore"

"Yes, but not far from the ship, I would feel guilty about leaving you stranded here"

"Swain is a nice man, I thought he was scary at first, but he is really kind and honest!"

The Captain didn't comment.

He just wanted to get on land so he would be out of his ship.

He didn't mind waiting or traveling, he minded the monster that he carried inside his ship.


Swain stretched his bones as he walked out of the ship, he heard a bone pop and smiled.

The ride had been pleasant, short and the constant rain had been a blessing to his ears.

A small carriage waited for him in the port.

He liked it, discreet and with few guards.

Most people would assume a small noble rode the thing.

They would be in quite the surprise once he arrived.

He greeted the captain of the guards and walked inside the carriage.

The "dance" would be held in the Piltovian grand hall, the biggest building in all of Piltover.

Swain looked absentmindedly out of the window, making small notes to himself as he passed the houses and the streets.

No defenses in residential areas, few guards posted around.

The ones that were posted around had hextech weapons.

Sooner than he expected he heard the voice from one of the guards.

"My lord we will be arriving shortly, should I notify the entrance of your arrival"

"Negative, just tell them a noxian noble has arrived that should quiet them down, I would like to take my enemies by surprise, but make sleeping arrangements once I am inside the building, rent a house and secure it"

"As you wish my lord"

Just as he expected the mere word Noxian let out a small gasp from the guards and the quickly let them inside.

Once they arrived to the front gates, Swain prepared himself.

He was no LeBlanc but he knew how important this night was, he needed to look his best.

The guards moved and Swain knew it was times.

The carriage was open and he stepped out.

Gasps filled the air and he heard a glass shatter.

He smiled inside.

Good.

Swain made his way through the shocked crowed with disinterest and opened the doors himself, the guards to stupefied to do their work.

"Announcing…"

"Jericho Swain, Grand General of Noxus" he cut off the man.

Swain loved the look the different countries send him.

Demacians glared, Shurimans gasped and Ionians…

Ionians looked as if they had seen a monster.

Swain smirked at them.

"Please do not stop for me this is for… peace" Swain said with a sneer on his face.

The party resumed, but he cared little, his eyes were tracking down familiar figures.

Jarvan IV was here, that was obvious and so was his crown guard, the siblings from what he recalled.

The blonde one stared at him in curiosity.

He saw Ashe and a big man with a mustache.

And was that…

"YOU!" a yell cut his musings off.

He knew that voice.

He clenched his hand, the one he had lost and remade.

Swain frowned as the figure approached him.

Soon enough he was glaring down at her.

A slap silenced the entire room.

Blood trickled down from Swain's cheek.

He smiled.

"Hello Irelia, you have grown, might I tell you that you look beautiful tonight?"

Irelia glared as blades started to twirl around her.

Swain licked the blood that was going down his cheek.

His arm ready to fight.

"I have been dreaming of this moment for a very long time Noxian"

"I bet you have little one, I bet you have"

Scared citizens started to walk away.

Their ideas of peace starting to crumble in the first day.

Swain smiled at it all, revenge and leaving sooner to Noxus, this would be a good day.

Irelia on the other hand only had one thing going to her mind and that was justice for her people.