The courtyard had long since been soaked through by the rain.
Even with the drainage system in place, a few puddles had still formed, their surfaces breaking into ripples under the steady patter of raindrops.
The air around them was cool and fresh, carrying that unmistakable scent of rain mixed with flowers and grass.
Luke loved the smell of rainfall. It occurred to him that on a day like this, sitting back, watching the rain, and slowly sipping a drink was a fine kind of pleasure.
If only there were someone beside him to drink with.
Perhaps his wish was answered.
A carriage slowly rolled to a stop outside the courtyard gate, fitted with a rain canopy at the front.
The curtain was lifted, and Jarvan IV stepped out. He did not even bother with an umbrella, simply walking into the courtyard through the rain.
The moment he spotted Luke, his eyes lit up, and he strode over.
"Afternoon, big brother."
Luke greeted him with a smile.
"Afternoon." Jarvan IV smiled back, then sat down without the slightest formality. Looking at the falling rain, he said with some feeling, "Every now and then, getting a rainy day like this really isn't bad."
"Not bad at all."
Luke nodded in agreement.
After a pause, Jarvan IV cleared his throat and said in an almost casual tone, "And it also happens to be perfect weather for drinking."
He sounded casual.
But Luke understood him perfectly.
He was here to mooch.
"In that case, let's have a little before lunch."
Luke stood up and asked, "Beer or liquor?"
Jarvan IV laughed heartily. "Either works, either works."
That was what he said, but Luke felt like drinking beer in weather this good would ruin the mood a little.
So he brought out two jugs of fairly strong clear liquor, noticeably stronger than what he usually drank while soaking in hot springs.
He handed one jug and a cup to Jarvan IV, then sat back down.
"I already finished all the liquor you sent me last time. The better it tastes, the faster it disappears."
As Jarvan IV spoke, he poured a drink, watching the clear liquid slowly fill the cup. Then he eagerly took a small sip.
The liquor was warming too. One swallow into his stomach, and some color immediately returned to his face, while the chill from the rain faded quite a bit.
"Now that hits the spot." Jarvan IV let out a long breath of satisfaction.
Luke took a sip as well, smiling faintly.
He had sent Jarvan IV quite a lot before, enough for one man to drink for a good while.
Which meant Jarvan IV had obviously shared it with the soldiers under his command.
Of course, even knowing that, Luke had no intention of saying anything.
Liquor was made to be drunk.
After draining the whole cup in one go, Jarvan IV said in his usual broad, easy manner, "By the way, can you send me more of this? A few extra barrels?"
Luke looked at him in surprise. "Sure. How many are we talking?"
"A hundred or so?"
Even Jarvan IV sounded a little unsure when he said it.
Luke stared. "What do you need that many barrels for?"
Jarvan IV did not try to hide it. "Planning to drink it on the road."
"On the road?"
"Yeah." Jarvan IV nodded, his gaze fixed on the rain. "In the next few days, I'll be heading for the frontier."
Luke said nothing, quietly waiting for him to continue.
"A while ago, word started coming in from the border. The bandits and raiders on the far side of the Argent Mountains are getting restless again. Based on the reports, I suspect Noxus is fanning the flames behind the scenes."
Jarvan IV looked into the curtain of rain, a flash of sharp resolve passing through his eyes. "This time, I'm going to the frontier myself. I'm going to stabilize that whole region for good."
Luke listened and thought it over.
Beyond the Argent Mountains, southeast of Demacia, there really was a resource-rich region loaded with mineral wealth.
And because of that, the area had been fought over by all kinds of powers for years.
Not just the drifters and brigands from the unclaimed lands, or the small nations scattered around it.
Demacia and Noxus alone had clashed there more times than anyone could count.
Neither nation was willing to let go of that territory.
Many years ago, the two empires had fought their first major clash in the south, and it was in that battle that Luke and Jarvan IV's great-grandfather, Jarvan I, was killed by a Noxian.
It was a stain on Demacia's history that could never be erased.
And after that, the long years of struggle began.
During that time, the two sides fought so many skirmishes no one could count them, and in the larger battles too, they were evenly matched, wins and losses on both sides.
Noxus, which had always crushed its way into other lands by sheer force, had run into a real wall there for the first time.
That was when Noxus realized there was an exceptionally troublesome kingdom at the far western edge of the continent, and began to regard Demacia as its greatest enemy.
Then, nineteen years ago, Jarvan III led a campaign and handed Noxus a crushing defeat.
From then on, Noxus was suppressed in the contest for those southern lands, steadily losing ground before Demacia.
Later, they temporarily gave up trying to seize it and withdrew fully back to Trevale.
But everyone knew Noxus, greedy as ever, would never truly give up. Once they had set their jaws on something, they never let go easily.
A glance at the current war in Ionia was proof enough.
They were like a wolf licking its wounds, waiting for the chance to lunge again.
Jarvan IV had no intention of giving them that chance. He had decided to go to the frontier and lead the army himself, securing Demacia's claim over the Gates of Mourning once and for all.
He meant to use that to send a warning to Noxus, and to certain people within Demacia as well.
"All right. I'll have the liquor ready. I'll send it over tonight."
Luke did not waste words and agreed immediately.
There was no way he had a hundred barrels sitting at home, but he could always just go next door and get some from House Laurent.
These days, he certainly was not worried about the money.
Jarvan IV smiled and gave Luke's shoulder a heavy clap. Everything that needed saying was left unspoken.
Between real brothers, there was no need for thanks.
The two of them raised their cups and lightly tapped them together in midair.
After downing his drink in one swallow, Jarvan IV said, "Actually, I wanted to hear what you think about the meeting this morning."
Luke answered with a question of his own. "What do you think?"
"I support Father's decision." Jarvan IV's expression turned serious, his eyes resting on the rain. "You've probably already heard it from Garen, but I once loved someone too."
Luke recalled a name. "Ariel?"
"Yes. I still remember how impossible it felt when I first learned she was mageborn."
Jarvan IV decided pouring was too much trouble and simply drank straight from the jug. He took a swig and continued, "But I accepted it very quickly. Because I trust my heart, and I trust my own eyes. Ariel was mageborn, yes, but she was absolutely a good woman."
The moment he spoke Ariel's name, even Jarvan IV's steadfast eyes wavered.
For just that instant, Luke saw a trace of tenderness in the man's gaze.
"She should have had a happy family in Demacia. Instead, because she was mageborn, she was forced to flee far from home."
Jarvan IV took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. "And in Demacia, things like that happen almost every moment. Countless people suffer for no reason. Maybe it's time we thought about whether the rules we've followed all these years were ever right to begin with."
If a little resistance was enough to make people shrink back in fear, then who was ever going to see this through?
In truth, Jarvan IV had only come here because he wanted someone to talk to.
As for what Luke thought, he already knew the answer.
He knew very well that the man behind the Royal City Bulletin was Luke.
And that the woodcut illustration had been published by Luke's design as well.
Luke had already made his stance known, even if only indirectly.
He listened quietly as Jarvan IV spoke his mind, drinking as he did.
"Of course, there's also a little selfishness mixed in on my part."
Jarvan IV laughed and slapped Luke on the back. "You're about to catch up to me, so as your big brother, I ought to show a little something."
He was proud of Luke, truly proud.
Whether it was the beast tide and cult in Hunter City, or the Black Mist out on the border sea, the things Luke had done were not things even he could confidently say he would have managed just as well.
Jarvan IV was not a petty man. He did not feel the slightest bit of jealousy over Luke's achievements.
But he cared about his pride.
If his little brother surpassed him while he, the older brother, stayed stuck in place doing nothing, would that not be humiliating?
If that really happened, Garen would probably laugh at him for the rest of his life.
And the second selfish reason was simpler.
He needed merit. Great merit.
Only that would be enough to silence the opponents within Demacia.
Only then could he smoothly push through the law pardoning mages.
And when that time came, maybe Ariel, wherever she was, would hear the news and return.
"It's nice having a big brother who works this hard."
Luke took a sip of liquor, looked at the rain, and suddenly sighed with a peaceful expression.
The harder his brother worked, the easier his own good days would be.
Wonderful.
Jarvan IV shot him a look, then burst out laughing. "Then just wait here for your big brother's good news. This time, I'm going to leave those filthy mongrels running for their lives."
With that, he heroically drained the jug dry in one go.
Then he stepped toward the rain, clearly intending to leave behind one last dashing, unforgettable silhouette as he walked away without looking back.
Luke suddenly called out, "Big brother, wait."
"Hm?"
Jarvan IV, who had already gotten half-soaked again, came back under the eaves.
"I've got something for you. Give me a second."
Luke rose and walked into the house.
As soon as he stepped inside, he caught sight of several girls flinching in alarm and scrambling away. They had clearly been eavesdropping for a while.
He ignored them and went back to his room.
Not long after, he returned.
There was an envelope in his hand, which he passed to Jarvan IV. "I wrote a few words for you. If you ever find yourself wavering, or your emotions start to run hot, open it and read it."
Luke had originally intended to do the whole sealed-advice routine.
Instead, this big, thickheaded oaf took it and tore it open on the spot.
"We're brothers. Why make it sound so mysterious?"
As he spoke, his eyes dropped to the page. There were only a few words on it, but a smile appeared in his eyes.
One line said: "Before you make a decision, think about the people behind you."
The other said: "Don't chase a cornered enemy."
After reading them, he looked up and said seriously, "All right. I'll remember both."
Luke gave a slight nod.
Jarvan IV slipped the paper back into the envelope and tucked it into his pocket.
"This time I'm really going."
He waved once, then strode back into the rain without another glance.
He climbed into the carriage and slowly rode away.
Luke watched until it disappeared from sight, then withdrew his gaze, drained the last swallow from his jug, and let out a long breath.
After stretching lazily, he stood up and decided it was about time to start lunch.
He headed into the kitchen.
Not long after, a figure quietly slipped in behind him.
It was Lux, looking as sneaky as ever.
Luke glanced at her. "There's nothing to steal right now."
"I'm not here to steal food!"
Lux emphasized that first, then lowered her voice and asked, "I just heard you talking about mages and all that..."
Her beautiful eyes were shining with curiosity.
So Luke gave her the important parts of what had happened at the meeting that morning.
"So many people opposed it..."
At first, hearing the earlier part had made Lux feel happy.
But by the end of it, that happiness was gone.
More than half the ministers opposed pardoning mages. Even Uncle Jarvan could not do anything about it.
It all sounded like something that had no chance of succeeding.
Seeing how troubled she looked, Luke simply picked up a sliced piece of carrot and stuffed it straight into her mouth. "Don't think too much. Just focus on your magic. Did you learn the mental force technique I taught you yesterday?"
Lux's eyes immediately widened after having carrot shoved into her mouth. She mumbled a muffled protest or two, then started crunching it down.
After swallowing, she gave a snort. "Who are you looking down on? I picked that up in no time, okay?"
Seeing her puffed-up little smug face, Luke did not question her. He just smiled and shooed the little blonde out of the kitchen.
Lux's talent was the real thing, after all.
Now that he had taught her the full version of mental force, it would help her train and control her magic more effectively.
Lux was driven from the kitchen in a huff and could only go back to the living room and sit on the sofa.
But she looked distracted.
Sona glanced at her, then quietly reached out and gently held Lux's hand.
By the time Luke had lunch nearly finished, Fiora had also returned from House Laurent.
Her relatives, including Ammdar, had already gone back to High Silvermere some time ago.
As for Sébastien and Elma, they seemed to have gone numb to the fact that their daughter often did not come home at night anymore.
Their daughter's wings had gotten a little too strong.
There was simply no controlling her now.
Because of the rain outside, and because it showed no sign of letting up, Quinn had sent a message with Valor half an hour earlier saying that she, Vayne, and Frey would not be coming back.
They would be eating lunch at the guard camp instead.
The rain really was coming down hard, so there was not much to be done about it.
After lunch, no one had much to do for a while.
Because it was raining, Fiora could not go train with her sword in the backyard, and Lux and Kahina did not need to go to the Church of the Illuminators either.
Lux lay across the sofa in boredom, her two small, pale feet swinging back and forth in the air as she stared out the window at the endless falling rain.
The living room was quiet.
Poppy was polishing her beloved hammer. Sona was adjusting her etwahl. Fiora read silently. Kahina watched the rain outside too.
Luke, meanwhile, was getting sleepy.
"This is so boring!"
At last, Lux was the first one to snap. She shot upright, planted both little feet apart on the sofa, and looked down at the others like a general commanding an army. "Mahjong, need three more. Anyone in?"
Her voice was full of energy, enough to wake Luke from his drowsiness a bit.
He turned his head, yawned, and did not answer.
"I'm asking you."
Lux, annoyed, lifted one bare foot and nudged him twice.
"No energy. Not playing."
Luke refused.
Normally, he was the first one to answer a call like that, but today he was unusually sleepy.
"Hope you sleep yourself to death."
Lux glared at him irritably, then turned to the others.
Kahina thought for a moment. "I'm fine either way."
Sona gave a small nod too, as if to say she could join if they needed one more.
Fiora shook her head. "I want to read quietly for a while."
"I'll do it!"
A crisp voice suddenly rang out.
It was Poppy, who had just finished polishing her hammer and was now enthusiastically raising a hand.
Over this stretch of time, she had watched Luke play plenty of Mahjong. You could say she had practically learned it just by watching.
And she was very interested in finally playing herself.
"Good! Then you're in!"
Lux pointed at the three of them like a conquering general picking her troops.
Looking at how high and mighty and full of confidence she was, it was obvious she had no idea what was about to happen to her.
She, Kahina, Sona, and Poppy successfully put together a full table.
So the four of them immediately got to work. In order not to disturb Fiora while she was reading or Luke while he got ready for a nap, they carried the Mahjong table into another room and shut the door behind them.
Yurna took care of everything else, moving in and out with tea and water.
That left only Luke and Fiora in the living room.
Maybe it was the lunchtime liquor, but with the steady sound of rain pouring outside, Luke felt especially sleepy.
He shifted around on the sofa a little, and before long his head had naturally come to rest on the soft pillow of the swordmaster's thighs.
The faint scent coming from her carried a strangely soothing magic that made him even sleepier.
Fiora's eyes dropped from her book to Luke's face, where he wore an expression of complete enjoyment. She said nothing and went back to reading.
Only after a little while, someone's wandering hands started to misbehave.
That quite obviously disrupted her reading rhythm.
She frowned slightly and pinched the face of the man sprawled across her lap. "Even when you're falling asleep, you can't behave yourself?"
Luke pretended not to hear. He relaxed fully and let out a long, steady breath.
Very quickly, he really did fall asleep.
So Fiora quietly resumed reading, staying still so she would not wake the person on her lap.
Outside, the rain went on softly. The fire in the hearth crackled warmly, and every now and then a dry log popped.
Time passed in a quiet sort of beauty.
When Luke woke up, the pillow under his head had already been replaced by one of the sofa cushions.
A trace of that faint fragrance still seemed to linger at the tip of his nose. He opened his eyes hazily, sat up, and looked at the empty, silent living room.
For an instant, it almost felt as if he were the only person left in the world.
That feeling, however, was quickly washed away.
The door opened, and Poppy came running out happily from the other room. She dashed up to Luke and triumphantly held up a money pouch. "I won this!"
Seeing the bulging pouch in her little hand, Luke was not surprised in the slightest. He smiled and said, "Impressive."
"Hehe!"
That only made Poppy look even prouder.
Behind her came the trio of Lux, Kahina, and Sona, all wearing expressions of utter confusion.
Their faces made it clear enough. Poppy had completely cleaned all three of them out.
And at that moment, the three girls were all equally baffled.
None of them had expected to get demolished by Poppy, who had been sitting at a Mahjong table for the very first time.
"Terrible luck."
Lux let out a heavy sigh and collapsed onto the sofa in defeat.
For some reason, lately she felt like her luck at the table was not nearly as good as it used to be.
What a disaster.
Luke had no interest in comforting the team of three losers. He got up, stretched, and decided to go for a walk.
By now, the rain outside had stopped, though droplets were still falling from the eaves one by one.
He strolled around the courtyard for a while, then stopped in the backyard.
Fiora was there, sword in hand, practicing.
When she saw Luke sit down nearby, she asked casually, "Sleep well?"
Still feeling the lingering laziness in his body, Luke answered instinctively, "Pretty well."
To be fair, Fiora's lap really did make an excellent pillow.
Though if he had to rank lap pillows, Sona's was still the most comfortable.
Fiora asked again, "Get enough sleep?"
Her tone was light, but it immediately made Luke wary. "Why are you asking that?"
Fiora stopped moving, turned around, and looked at him with a smile. "Well, now you can't use being sleepy as an excuse tonight, can you?"
Luke froze for a second, sucked in a sharp breath, and still insisted stubbornly, "What nonsense. When have I ever used an excuse like that?"
"Mm. Some people really will do it, then refuse to admit it."
Fiora clicked her tongue. Her cold, beautiful face carried a touch of queenly disdain as her cool eyes rested on him.
"That absolutely never happened." Luke found her completely unreasonable, gave a dismissive snort, and went straight back to the living room.
After rummaging through his bag for a while and failing to find a single Ruby Cranberry, he could only sigh.
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