A Search Through Runeterra (Arcane)

"Death is like the wind—always by my side."~ Yasuo, The Unforgiven

Previous chapter is updated btw. Read that first.

I also have come to the realization that I have too many characters to keep track of. And all of them are not only powerful but also important. And this is just withing the immediate circle. I can barely keep track of children how do the harem writers (scum) keep track of their female interests? And these characters actually contribute to the story. Crazy.

But we roll with it. I do not regret having these characters. It sets up the future of the world with these characters. (Side-stories I will eventually get to.)

I also thought this arc was small. It isn't. Its nearly 60 chapters. Noxus was around 21. Damn.

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"What?"

His hand rose to his face as anger began to flood his mind.

"They did what?" The voice was soft but it was anything but.

The men beside him backed off due to the sheer rage in his words.

"Names." Jarvan spoke as his grip on Drakebane tightened. "I want the names of everyone involved. And count the casualties. Give me a full list of everything." Gone was the calm and reasonable Jarvan. The one who sat with a smile and listened while trying to reason with his subjects with facts and logic.

No.

They had made him this.

And he would show them the consequences of their actions.

"AND MARCH FASTER! WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE CAPITAL BY NIGHTFALL!" He yelled in rage.

"Your highness."

He turned. "What?" His voice harsh.

Xin Zhao, his retainer, looked back at him in worry, "This might be an issue."

"Might?" Jarvan rubbed his forehead trying to think of how he could manage this, "Might is an understatement my friend. This is a full blown disaster."

"You are not wrong." Xin Zhao muttered as he struggled to wrap his mind around the destruction.

Gregori was a force of nature.

He believed that. Then men and women here believed that.

A single wave stopped a war. A single swing ended the lives of the enemy leader and a Silverwing. And he then journeyed back without rest.

That man was a monster. 

Now he would be angered beyond belief.

"He has killed over fifty people. Over fifty soldiers. I am not counting the assassins and mercenaries and their ilk but rather able bodied Demacian fighters. Men who were supposed to die defending and fighting for their homes. He killed them all. And if the message is to be believed, his children had also killed a number of them. HIS CHILDREN HAD TO KILL. Do you understand how angry he must be? And do you think we can retaliate? He was in the right. We not only lose soldiers but now, we also have to appease him. You know something Xin?"

"Yes your highness?" Xin Zhao asked as he stepped closer.

"He was right." Jarvan announced, "He was right all along."

The respect he had felt for his father for managing the nobles without the breakout of a war had faded. Not gradually but instantly. That man His respect for him. It vanished. Replaced with something akin to disgust.

He had let this.... cancer..... grow unchecked within his lands. And they began to think themselves unstoppable. This had led them to develop some kind of superiority complex toward their peers and their people.

No.

Gregori was right.

Sylas was right.

This kingdom needed change. A whole new Demacia was needed.

And he would begin right this moment.

"What are you going to do?" Pieter asked as he walked up to the two. "If you sit back then...."

"I won't." Jarvan replied coldly.

Pieter nodded, "Good. They invaded a Crownguard home. They attacked Crownguard guests. If you hadn't moved... we would have gone to war. Even if it wasn't a physical war... it would have been a trade war."

"What would you have done?" Xin Zhao asked.

Pieter smiled evilly.

His sister, Tianna stepped forward. "We are known for our undying loyalty to the crown. But there is more. We control most of the influx of Demacian steel. Not the actual making of it but rather the raw material added to the steel that gives it its color. The rights to which was given to us by Jarvan the First for our service to the crown."

"So you would cripple our country?" Jarvan asked while looking at them from the corner of his eyes.

She shook her head, "The additive is cosmetic. Not something that affects the material itself. Jarvan the First didn't give us power but rather a symbol. A symbol we can use to rein in our enemies as well as enemies of the crown. At this point the color and Demacian steel have become synonymous. Even if you have products of the same quality, if it doesn't look like it.... then is it really Demacian steel?"

"So you would cripple those who sell Demacian steel."

She nodded. "Most of the noble factions sell the steel. For building. For weapons. For trades with other lands. For statues. For practically everything that needs a certain assurance of quality. The only groups that would be given the additive are yours, the king's group and the Durands. Their skills are what keeps Demacia afloat and we will not touch them." Her smile grew wider, "We still plan to do it even after your punishments."

"Even if their status as nobles were revoked?" Jarvan asked.

Every head in the vicinity turned around in an instant. Guards who were escorting them. Soldiers who were travelling back. Nobles who had joined in on the attack. Everyone was listening close. And they knew that the Crownguards were angry and despite hearing their plan they thought those nobles would somehow manage and weasel their way out of the situation.

Revoking one's status as a noble was only done as a response to high treason. Plotting to murder and allying with an enemy kingdom. Those were the two that would require that response.

But Jarvan was willing to do this.

Xin Zhao spoke first, "You would go that far?"

"My exact words to him were, your weapons will be returned to you and you and your children will be granted safe passage through Demacia if you help repel the oncoming forces." Jarvan kept walking. "And as far as I know..... the king's word is law is it not?"

"It is your highness." Xin Zhao nodded.

Jarvan swung his lance to the side, "Then has Gregori Hastur helped repel the invaders?"

"He did more than that your highness." A voice answered. Alain Spiritmight. He spoke up knowing he had to side with Jarvan now. Things were becoming too dangerous to stand on the sidelines. Jarvan had began to change after Gregori had spoken to him. Even though he wanted to be king.... it could only be possible if he was left alive.

He just hoped his parents hadn't been part of the group that attacked them. Otherwise he would be forced to remove them from the family. The only possible decision for him.

"Exactly." Jarvan eyes Alain for a moment before continuing. "Then he has fulfilled his end of the deal." His voice began to rise, "Despite that. He was attacked. His family was attacked. And I can guarantee you that they have tried to or have successfully moved the weapons What do you think that means?"

No one answered.

Every one listened.

Not to some child who had ascended the throne.

But a king.

A wrathful king.

"That means that they broke my word. They broke my promise to a man who has not been treated well in our soil. They believe themselves above me. Above Demacia." He let out an angry breath. "There is a reason a Lightshield has sat on the throne since the founding of Demacia. It is time they are reminded of it."

Jarvan's face hardened as his voice took a dangerous edge, "All nobles who were a part of the attack will have their titles as nobles stripped away from them. Their lands will be taken back and will be under the rule of the crown. And to go one step further, their actions for the prosperity of the kingdom will be brought into question. And from this point onward, to become a noble..... one must either fight on the frontlines or commit a service of great value for the kingdom. Not to the crown. But the kingdom. And anyone wearing Mageseeker regalia will be arrested on sight. This entire war happened because of them. This is their justice."

Xin Zhao's eyebrows rose, "This will have far reaching consequences."

"I hope so." Jarvan replied, "This is what Demacia needs. My more softer approaches were deemed the actions of a weak man. Let me show them what strength really is."

"What if they try to discredit you?" Pieter asked the most dangerous question.

Jarvan turned around, his blue-gold eyes looking as though they were glowing. His eyes ran through everyone there.

Pieter's breath hitched. This wasn't the same boy he had practically raised. No. He had become more. The kind and easy going boy had died being replaced by.... this. 

"They die."