As They Bloom

10 - The Scout

The pressure to choose is suffocating.

On one hand, you could completely end the threat the Yánléi pose to all you hold dear. All it would take is one swing of Yone's blade, and it would all be over. On the other, taking their lives would make you no better than the Noxians you are so desperate to distance yourself from. How can you claim yourself changed, if you still resort to solving your problems with violence? If you continue to spread fear through this land like a plague?

They stand on opposite sides of the table, their eyes locked onto you.

You must choose and seal the Yánléi's fate.

But it was never much of a choice, was it?

"We can't kill them, Yone," you tell him. "Lillia is right; it will terrify the villagers. It may well terrify them enough to drive them into the Yánléi's hands."

You point at the map, indicating the five villages surrounding the forest. "The Northernmost village is more or less loyal to us, but the others..." A cold streak of shame runs down your spine as your eyes drift to the Westernmost village. The same village your vanguard unit attacked. They most certainly hold no love for Noxians...

Lillia is grateful, sighing in relief. But Yone shakes his head, avoiding your gaze with a scowl.

"You are both too kind for your own good," he murmurs. "It would be no effort to take them down in battle. We could spend the rest of our time focusing on the villagers."

"Why didn't you do it last night, then?" you retort, perhaps a little too harshly. "If it's so easy, why did your hand stay your blade? You had the perfect opportunity."

He blinks at you, taken aback. Lillia looks between you, her ears flattened with nervousness. For a moment, you think he's about to anger. But instead, he sighs and hangs his head, looking thoroughly exhausted.

"Because I knew it would affect you both." Is all he says.

"Then we have our decision. We will remove the Yánléi threat without spilling blood." You turn to Yone, burning with determination. "Take me with you tonight. Together, we might figure out a way to do so."

"Very well," he sighs, exasperated.

You spend the rest of the afternoon preparing for your trip with Yone and helping ensure Lillia will be safe in the forest. You walk around the garden and surrounding forest, stopping to replace any traps that got triggered the previous night. Thankfully, apart from the one Grandfather stepped on, none appear to have been touched.

Once you're certain you've taken all necessary precautions, you prepare to steal into the village under cover of night. Lillia calls out your name before you do so, pressing a paper package into your hand. You peer within and find it filled to the brim with dream dust.

"Just in case," she smiles. You pocket it quickly, relieved to have an emergency escape.

Your footsteps are soft upon the well-worn dirt path. The cottages are quiet, almost too quiet: in the way of nervous, hidden creatures. Like field mice, hiding away from a hawk. You follow closely behind Yone, who maintains a swift pace despite crouching low as he sneaks through the village. It is not long until you're out of breath keeping up with him, your thighs burning.

When you reach the tallest building in the village, he holds out his arm before you. His eyes meet yours, and he raises a finger to his lips before pointing to the door. You take a moment to examine the building. It's old. Very old. And neglected. The bricks are chipped, and the paint on the door peeling. You wonder why they'd choose such a place as their base.