It was raining heavily, and it's raining today. Freezing rain poured down from the north, washing over the dog-toothed mountains. This mountain range is a natural barrier between Demacia and Freljord. At this moment, a storm was brewing behind the peaks in the north, but the high mountains held out the dark clouds, and the lower slopes began to gradually cover the green carpet of Demacian pines. Although the green pines are not afraid of the cold and grow tenaciously, they are bent by the perennial north wind. Looking to the east and west, the endless mountains were gradually covered in blue haze, and the sky was oppressive and dark, like her brother's unsmiling character. To the north, halfway up the plateau is covered with forest, with cliffs and rifts. It's a treacherous land of ferocious creatures and wild monsters.

Lux left two weeks ago. From Demacia to Edessa, via Pinara to Rissos, and from Rissos to Veros, finally arriving at the city of dragons and birds, the Secret Silver City. She stayed overnight at a relative's house at the foot of the Knight's Rock, and then continued deeper into the northwestern frontier of Demacia. She immediately felt the change in the temperament of the village and its villagers, and she knew that the heart of Demacia had been left behind her, like a flag that had been ruthlessly torn away by a gale, leaving only the bare flagpole to shake itself.

The lush, fertile land has been transformed into a barren wilderness eroded by wind and sand, dotted here and there are gorse and thistle flowers. Silver-winged dragon birds hid above the clouds and chased each other, chirping echoing beyond the nine heavens. The north wind brought the icy temperature of Freljord, the air was getting colder and the outer walls of the village were getting higher and higher. The last leg of the journey to Fosbyro was long and arduous, but she finally arrived. Lux let out a sigh of relief, revealing a fleeting smile.

"The temple is almost there, Starfire. She said as she reached out and stroked the horse's mane. "They'll prepare rice and warm stables for you, I promise. ”

The horse shook its head, let out a snort, and stamped its hooves impatiently. With a flick of her heels, Lux drove her tired spark along the rutted trail to the gates of Fosbello.

The small city is built by the water, spanning both sides of the Python River. The river originates in the mountains and winds its way from the west coast to the sea. The flat granite walls undulated along the hills, and the houses in the city were mostly made of stone, old wood and glazed tiles. To the east stands the tower of the Temple of Lightbringer, the brazier at the top of the tower emitting a warm glow, as if to welcome her arrival in the twilight.

Lux lifted the hood of her blue cloak and spread her long blond hair. On her youthful and energetic face, a pair of ocean-blue eyes shone with a resolute divine light. She unfastened one of the straps from the saddle, removed the cane, and held the handle of gold-lacquered ebony wood lightly in her hand. Two figures appeared on the watchtower at the top of the tin gate, each holding a strong bow made of ash and purple wood.

"Stop, traveler," one of the guards began. "The gates are closed, so come back tomorrow morning. ”

"I'm Laxana Crownback," she said. "As you said, it's getting late. But I came from afar to worship my great-grandfathers. I would be grateful if I could be a little accommodating. ”

The man looked at it in the dim twilight, and then his eyes widened in surprise. He knew Lux. Although it had been a long time since she had last been in Fosbyro, Galen always said that people would never forget her if they looked at Lux.

"I beg your pardon," he exclaimed, and turned to the rest of the guards to order the door open.

Lux loosened Starfire's reins slightly. With the sound of heavy chains twisting and turning, the gate slowly rose and closed into the city wall. Lux waited until the gate had risen high enough to enter the city, where she was greeted by a hastily assembled courtesy party—ten leather-clad soldiers with silver brooches pinned to their blue cloaks and uniformly winged swords. They were proud Demacian soldiers, yet for some reason they looked listless and tired.

"Welcome to Fosbello," said the man in the gate tower just now. "It's an honor, miss. District Judge Giselle will be relieved to learn that you have arrived. Can I send a squad of soldiers to escort you to her mansion?"

"Thanks, but not necessary," Lux said, recalling the man's words. "I have an appointment with Sister Penile of the Lightbringer Temple. ”

She was about to move on, but she sensed what the guard was about to say, and gently grabbed Starfire's reins.

"Miss Crown," the guard began. "Are you here to put an end to our nightmare?"

The Lightbringer's temple was warm and dry, Starfire had settled in the stables, and Lux had finally met Sister Pernilla in the main hall as scheduled. Rumors of dark magic in the mountains and forests surrounding Fosbyro reached the Lightbringer Church in the royal capital of Demacia, so Glow sent Kahina to investigate.

Not long after Lux entered the town, she immediately felt a dark magic surging in the shadows, as if something was watching her in the shadows. There were few pedestrians on the street, all of them heavy and tired.

A curtain of terror hangs over Forsbyro, but it's worse than Lux imagined.

"It's Judge Giselle's child, Luca. Sister Pernillet told her the details. The yellow-haired woman wore the white robes of the Lightbringer Healer.

"What's wrong with her child?" asked Lux.

"He disappeared two days ago," Penile continued. "People are saying that he was kidnapped by a scheming dark magician, and that he died nine times for the rest of his life. ”

"Why do they think that?"

"Come back tomorrow morning and ask me. Penile said.

Lux woke up screaming. Her heart was pounding, her breathing was short, her mind was full of fear, and in nightmares she was dragged to the ground by her claws, and the putrid mud poured into her mouth and nose, burying her light forever. Lux blinked vigorously, as if to squeeze out the remnants of the scene. The shadows faded from the edge of her vision, and her mouth smelled of rancid milk, a sign of magic. She stretched out her palm and gathered a ball of light. The light illuminated the room, driving away the last wisps of nightmare. Her body was filled with a feeling of warmth, and her skin shone with a familiar rainbow halo.

When she heard someone downstairs talking, she immediately clenched her fists, and the ball of light immediately dissipated, leaving only the pale sky light outside the window to illuminate the room.

(End of chapter)