They're close now. On the other side of the courtyard ahead, a mountain cliff jutted into the night sky, and Ciric's eyes were on the peak. An abrupt structure stands in the stars, and that's where they want to go.

The alarm bells are still ringing, spreading throughout Filol.

Cilik led the way to the middle of the courtyard, left the tower, and began to run towards the stone steps carved into the cliff. She didn't care if she would be seen now. The time for the trick has passed. Speed is the best friend at the moment.

Shouts rang out above them, and arrows chased the Ionians as they sprinted through the clearing. None of them hit, all of them hit the cobblestone ground at their feet. Several guards rushed out from behind a nearby door and came to intercept them. Hilik and his companions did not stop at all, drawing their weapons, scimitars, ninja scythes, poison darts, and iron fans. In a heartbeat, they had burst into the middle of the Noxians, either sliding or somersaulting, and at the same time delivering deadly blows, dancing into the enemy line.

The Ionians suffered their first sacrifice, a man struck in the neck by a halberd. Cilik suppressed the momentary grief and continued to push forward, breaking through the enemy line side by side with his brother, leaving several Noxians in a pool of blood.

They reached the potholed stone steps that had endured far more wind and rain than the fortress itself. They sprint upwards, three steps at a time. The wishing lanterns on both sides of the stone steps are all black.

Until Noxus took over the sanctuary, the lanterns were always lit day and night.

Another Ionian fell, two arrows thrust into his chest. Without making a sound, he tumbled down the stone steps of the cliff and fell into the courtyard below. The rest of the Ionians continued to sprint up the spiraling stone steps to the top. More arrows hit the cliff face beside them, but fortunately she had no companions to be hit again.

They hurried up the curved staircase. The cold light of the metal flashed, and the signs, though small, still alerted Hirik, causing her to instinctively fly and roll. A heavy spear, thrown with great force, brushed past her a few inches away, striking her companion behind her. The spear pierced through his chest, and his entire body was carried into the air, falling off a cliff.

Two guards stood at the entrance to the temple at the top of the cliff. Both men were muscular and dressed in heavy black armor, holding a giant shield in one hand and a serrated meat axe in the other.

The rest of the Ionians struck in unison, sprinting, fluttering, and somersaulting to meet the two burly Noxians, swords and swords, and murderous.

Taking advantage of her speed, Cilik ran up the façade of the cliff, darted two steps and leaped forward, the dagger in both hands sprinting towards the guard's neck while her brother struck the lower plate. Aujin rolled to avoid the Noxian's sweep and sliced a backhand through one of his opponent's legs, sending his rival stumbling off balance. Cirick pierced the air like a spear, and his two knives took the lead, cutting two deep grooves in the heavy neck of the Noxian.

But he didn't fall right away. Hillik landed lightly, crouching, one hand balancing, and the warrior roared and knocked an Ionian unspeaker to the ground with the front of his tower shield. Before Cilik could strike again, the savage warrior slashed her companion's neck with the rim of his shield, killing her with a single blow.

Another Noxian warrior was just as tricky, she roared like a wounded bull and threw wildly, but in reality her fatal wounds were bleeding all the time, and a normal person would have died long ago.

Ogin found a hole in the side of her heavy breastplate, slashed the Noxian's ribs, and immediately jumped to the side, dodging the counterattack. Cilik saw the right moment to rush forward and make another stab, and when the enemy slashed in her direction, another companion saw the needle again and struck the Noxian from behind. They were like a ruthless pack of wolves besieging large prey, and finally the Noxian warrior finally fell to her knees, blood pouring from the ground. Her upper body remained upright for a while, spitting out a few curses, and then falling to the ground motionless.

Her companion roared in grief and rage, and with a savage swing of his cleaver axe, knocked down an unspeaker. Then he ran to his partner, who had fallen to the ground, and knelt on the ground and hugged her into his arms with his huge arms. He was demoralized, and let out a terrible, painful wail into the night sky.

Augin and the others gathered around for the final blow, but Cirick shook his head. "Leave him alone," he said. "It's important to get down to business."

The Noxian couldn't understand what she was saying, but he could hear what she meant. He lifted his sad eyes, got back to his feet, and picked up his weapon. Then he let out a final battle cry and charged at Cirik. He didn't take a few steps before he was cut to the ground - probably just what he expected. Then he collapsed beside the other Noxian, reached out to her with the last of his strength, and swallowed his breath completely.

Although an enemy, his death saddened Cirik. The two of them are relatives? Couple? Or friends? She took a deep breath, pushed the emotions aside, and continued to concentrate on the task.

She nodded silently, and led the remaining four Ionian Unspeakers into the temple, which his people called Darje Ahira - the pool of dreams.

Filore was not originally designed to be a fortress. A hundred and eight thousand miles away from the fortress, it was once a center of tranquility and enlightenment, where gifted young Ionians would come from far and wide to learn how to better harness their natural talents. But that time was long before Chirik was born, and the island, once alive with life, study and peace, was now a barren land and a prison. Hardly any vegetation grows on the islands around the fort, except for dry thorn bushes and grey ghostly moss. The many birds and other wild creatures of the nearby islands have also avoided the area, except for the dark, hateful ravens and ravens that have followed the Noxians and never left.

Before the Noxian invasion, Cirik and the other guards served as sentries here, keeping watch over Darje Ahira. Their mission is to make sure that the person who was kept inside is never released.

Cirick led the group into the darkness of the cavern, holding a glass ball filled with glowing winged fireflies. She shivered, her hairs stood on end, and the further down she went, the lower the temperature dropped.

The stone steps in the cave were wet and slippery, but she still sped down, for it would not be long before the Noxian pursuers would catch up with overwhelming numbers. They are all ready to come and go, and the only important thing is to complete the purpose of this trip, to put an end to the threat in the Dream Pool, and leave no future trouble.