As They Bloom

13 - The Shadows

The rest of the week goes by quickly, ushered along by your triumph over Yue.

You still can't help but smile whenever you think back on Lani's reaction upon hearing you helped reunite Bo with his fiancée.

"An old story? You convinced her with an old story?" She'd stared at Yone with shock. He shrugged, as though it was the most obvious solution in the world.

"There is a lot of wisdom to be found in those stories," he'd said. She shook her head.

"Well, whether or not we agree on that, it worked. Bo is eternally grateful. And his tongue's been a lot looser regarding Yue's plans now that I've told him who was behind it all..."

Though Bo himself has not visited the garden, Lani has become the intermediary between you. Every few days, she arrives with her baskets and relays whatever plans Yue has come up with. Tensions are high – he's suspicious of Bo and Lani, and yet has no one else he can trust. The villagers have made their distaste well known, and his master does not know of his doings. If he is to turn back now, with nothing to show for himself and multiple villages enflamed with hatred towards the Yánléi, he may face exile... or worse.

A part of you feels bad for him. You can understand the source of his desperation, to a degree. Noxus has invaded Ionia once before, with disastrous results. Of course, he would want to wield whatever power he could get his hands on to stop them.

Yone once again grows restless from having to wait. He spends the night watching over the village, and the days pacing the garden. During one of Lani's visits, you take her aside and ask her to bring him back a whetstone. After, he instead alternates between pacing and sharpening his blade under the Mother Tree, driving both you and Lillia mad with the near constant sound of scraping steel.

"The longer we wait, the closer the Noxian battalion gets," he tells you, scowling from behind the mask. "We already have the acolytes and the village on our side. I could have him dead tonight, and we will be done with all this."

"No. There has to be another way," you wave away his words, though there's no denying the churning anxiety within you. What if there isn't another way? What if the only way to ensure everyone's safety is to dirty your hands with his blood?

Yone shakes his head, exasperated. "We have just over two weeks until the battalion arrives. The Noxians are merciless; they don't care if there are nothing but children and the elderly in the villages – they'll trample them down regardless. The people need to be evacuated as soon as possible. You are wasting time attempting to spare him."

"If I let you cut him down, how am I any different than those in the battalion?" You scowl, anger quickening. "His blood may be on your sword, but his death will be on my conscience."

His expression softens for a moment, blue eyes stark against the red of his mask. "Don't think for a moment you're like those soldiers. You've already saved the acolytes – it was more than I thought possible."

"But there remains one more."

A frustrated sound escapes him. He returns to his spot at the base of the Mother Tree, whetstone in hand, avoiding your gaze with a scowl. "My offer will remain, should you change your mind."

"I won't."

Though you put up a great front of remaining steadfast in your decision, you can't help but doubt yourself a little.

"I think it's the right thing to do," Lillia assures you later that day after you air your grievances to her. "Every human has a little sparkle inside them. Sometimes they just lose it along the way. We've still got plenty of time."