Ending the Cycle || A Timebomb Fanfic

XXII

Did some concept sketches of their battle clothes b4 I wrote these scenes, completely forgot to post it in the last chapter so here it is lol ^^^

I have the speed paint on my art insta (which I barely use LMAO) at gomivibes if you guys wanna check it out :,)

Needed to give you guys some comfort and solace b4 this chapter <3

(Please forgive me)

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Lux stood among the ranks of the Dauntless Vanguard at Kings Rock, the sun cresting the horizon and bathing the citadel in an eerie orange glow. Soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder, their gleaming armor catching the light like polished mirrors, forming an unyielding line around the main fortress. Within its walls lay King Jarvan, the high nobles, and the countless civilians seeking shelter from the chaos. The tension was palpable, a silent storm brewing in the faces of the Vanguard as they readied themselves for the inevitable clash.

Inside the fortress, Poppy moved with purpose, her small frame belying the authority in her voice as she worked to calm the frightened masses. Outside, the sky darkened, marred by plumes of black smoke rising from fires blazing across the city. The rebellion's fury spread like wildfire, its destructive advance painting the horizon with an ominous glow.

The sounds of conflict grew louder, a relentless cacophony of steel clashing against steel and the volatile bursts of magic erupting in the distance. The city was a battleground, each moment drawing the rebellion closer to Kings Rock. The Mageseekers scrambled in disarray, their efforts to hold back the rebel forces increasingly desperate. The chaos was no longer contained—it was spilling over, threatening to consume the city entirely.

Lux felt her heart pounding against her ribs, each beat a deafening drum that drowned out the shouts around her. Her hand gripped the hilt of the small dagger at her side, her knuckles white as she braced for the inevitable. The tension was suffocating, a knot of fear twisting tighter in her chest as the world seemed to shrink to the fragile patch of ground beneath her feet.

Her fingers rose to her cheek, brushing against the streak of pink paint Ekko and Jinx had smeared on her earlier that day. The color, vibrant against the monotony of steel and stone, felt like a fragment of rebellion clinging to her. She smiled faintly, her fingertips now stained pink, and her thoughts flickered to her friends—her allies—now up on the hill preparing to storm the jail.

The weight of a hand on her shoulder broke her reverie. She turned, her blue eyes meeting Tianna's stern gaze. Her aunt stood tall, her armor polished to perfection, reflecting the rising sun in sharp flashes of light. The regal fierceness of her presence seemed to fill the space, but it only heightened the unease brewing in Lux's chest.

"Where are your friends?" Tianna asked, her voice calm but tinged with an edge of suspicion.

Lux hesitated, her lip catching between her teeth as she forced herself to respond. "They're not here," she said evenly. "They've done their duty. I didn't want them to get hurt. They're not needed in this part of the city."

Tianna's lips curved into a faint smile, her head inclining slightly in approval. "Good," she said, her tone carrying a strange satisfaction. "The Mageseekers weren't particularly thrilled when I mentioned your... companions."

The words struck like a blade, sharp and deliberate. Lux's brows furrowed, unease creeping down her spine. "What is that supposed to mean?" she asked, her voice tight.

Tianna sighed, the sound heavy with exasperation, as if she were indulging a naive child. "King Jarvan issued an order last night," she said, her words precise and cold. "The Mageseekers have been instructed to kill any outsiders or anyone suspected of being a mage on sight. Including those in the prisons. He knows his father's death was orchestrated by mages." She paused, her expression hardening. "And when this rebellion is crushed, the outer districts will burn."