"You'd better behave and stay put."
Duke didn't even move, yet Sivir froze mid-turn, her body stiff as stone.
"What… what did you do to me?"
Feeling her own limbs heavy and unresponsive, Sivir's expression twisted.
Duke shrugged casually. "Nothing much. I just helped you see things clearly."
"I saved your life, and not only do you refuse to thank me, you accuse me of foul play—and even shout at me."
He sighed dramatically. "I'm not the kind of man who demands gratitude, but your attitude does sting a little, you know?"
"So, be good and stay here. Do as I say."
"After all, in some sense, you're the most important person in all of Shurima right now."
Duke crooked his finger, and Sivir—completely against her will—turned on her heel and marched toward him, her face twisted into a fierce glare.
"You damned dark sorcerer! What are you trying to do to me?"
"Dark sorcerer?" Duke arched a brow. "Excuse me—I'm a scientist."
A sharp flick landed on Sivir's forehead.
"Little Sparrow," Duke called, turning to Taliyah. "Take Sivir to the rover. We're heading to Vekora next."
"Yes, Mr. Duke!"
Taliyah guided the rigid Sivir to the wolf-drawn vehicle. Duke packed away the Regeneration Cradle, then glanced at Sivir's dismantled exosuit with a helpless shake of his head.
"Why does everyone outside treat outdated junk like it's treasure?"
He sighed again. "I'll never understand."
Waving for Pride to continue escorting them, Duke climbed into the rover and gave a whistle.
"Rage, move out."
The great beast roared, pulling the vehicle along the dried riverbed.
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
Still bound by Duke's control, Sivir sat rigidly in the back seat, glaring through the small window at him.
"Sivir, do you even realize your current situation?"
Duke turned his head, finally taking the time to truly look at her.
Her long black hair was tied behind her head by a jeweled band. She was, without a doubt, beautiful—yet years of mercenary life had given her a hardened edge, a sharpness that made her more striking than any courtly beauty.
Her skin was a warm bronze, sun-forged and uniquely Shuriman. It lent her a wild, untamed allure.
Especially now, as she glared at him with smoldering fury—she was breathtaking.
"Hmph. Of course I know my situation," Sivir snapped. "A classless dark sorcerer kidnaps me—probably planning to sell me off to my enemies."
"You have many enemies?" Taliyah asked softly.
Sivir's expression softened a little at her. "Plenty. I've killed a lot of people."
She tried to shift in her seat but couldn't move, glaring at Duke again.
"Sometimes it was for pay. Sometimes they just got in my way. Lately, though, it's because they're furious—I told them I wasn't coming back."
"Not coming back? Where to?"
Taliyah blinked, then gasped as realization struck. "Wait—so the rumors about Ancient Shurima's rebirth are true?"
"You've seen it?" Sivir asked.
"With my own eyes," Taliyah nodded. "People are flocking there—especially from the eastern and southern tribes. Others won't be far behind."
Sivir spoke with casual familiarity—of course she did. She had been there when Shurima rose again.
"Then why did you run?"
Duke's curiosity was genuine. As the last descendant of Azir, Sivir carried the purest royal bloodline of Shurima. Staying would have made her second only to the Emperor himself.
"No one gets to decide my life but me," Sivir said coldly. "And you seem to know an awful lot, don't you, sorcerer?"
"Once again," Duke sighed, "I'm a scientist, not a dark sorcerer."
"Heh. And what kind of scientist uses underhanded witchcraft to control people?"
"Think what you like," Duke said lazily. "But staying with me is still your best option right now."
"And if you don't believe me," he smirked, "I can show you the facts."
"Oh really?" Sivir sneered. "You think you can convince me?"
Ignoring her mockery, Duke opened a cooler beside him and took out two popsicles. He handed one to Taliyah, and with the other, he pointed at Sivir.
"You're a mercenary, aren't you?"
Sivir's eyes flicked to the frosty treat, her throat tightening as she swallowed hard. She hadn't eaten a thing since fleeing Azir.
"So what if I am?"
"Then tell me—do you still take contracts?"
Sivir frowned, her thoughts flashing briefly to a certain well-dressed Noxian woman.
If it weren't for her, she wouldn't have ended up like this.
Still, her pride as Shurima's top mercenary surfaced. "That depends on whether you can afford me."
"The newest model of powered exosuit," Duke said lightly, "plus five thousand gold. I'll cover food, lodging, and every expense. You just follow me."
Sivir froze. That offer was absurdly generous—almost suspiciously so.
"I'm not the kind of mercenary who sells out for a few coins," she said coldly. "If you think you can just buy"
Her eyes went wide as Duke tossed her something—a gemstone the size of her fist, gleaming with raw light.
"…What were you saying?" Duke asked.
Sivir looked from the gem in her hands to Duke, and her tone shifted instantly. "Ahem… any orders, boss?"
"See? Facts convince better than words."
Duke snapped his fingers, releasing his hold on her. He handed her the popsicle next.
Sivir flexed her fingers, debating whether to drive her crossblade into his throat—but one look at the gemstone in her hands killed that thought.
That gem alone could fund a new mercenary company from scratch. Portable, valuable, universal currency.
And really, who hated money?
Besides—taking the payment didn't mean she had to do the job well.
Forcing a smile, Sivir unwrapped the popsicle. "So what's our next move, boss?"
"We're going to Vekora," Duke replied evenly. "A friend of mine's gone missing. I'm going to find him."
Sivir nodded indifferently. "You're paying. You call the shots."
She took a bite of the popsicle—and her eyes narrowed in surprise. The icy sweetness melted across her tongue, something so foreign and exquisite that even she couldn't resist savoring it.
Duke studied her quietly, reading the calculation behind her calm facade.
So, she was already planning to take the money, play along for a while, then run.
But she'd soon learn there was no such thing as easy money with him.
If she dared bolt, he'd make sure she paid it back—with interest.
Still, for now, she was handled.
Once she realized how deep in trouble she really was, she'd understand—sticking with Duke was her only option.
A small bribe to keep her close for now was well worth it.
Her loyalty could come later.
And why go through all this trouble to keep Sivir?
Because her importance to Shurima was beyond compare.
The last heir of the Sunblood—vital to the empire's future, and to Azir himself.
With Sivir in his hands, everything that followed would be much, much easier.
And besides…
Shurima's ancient knowledge fascinated him.
With Sivir as leverage, he could strike a deal with the Golden Fried Chicken—perhaps for access to that long-lost lore of Shurima.
After all, the Ascension ritual was something Duke very much wanted to study.
Rage pulled the rover onward, Pride following behind. Sivir and Taliyah chatted in the back seat, while Duke buried himself in his notes.
Before long, the dunes gave way to the sight of a sprawling city.
Vekora.
As they neared the gates, the city's vibrant energy became unmistakable.
Duke stored away Rage, Pride, and the vehicle, then led Taliyah and Sivir into the city on foot.
It was time to start searching for Viktor's trail.
Beyond the crumbling walls stretched a wide street packed with people—hundreds of them. Old men with scholar's eyes smoked long pipes under the archways, sweet smoke curling through the air like mist.
Tribal banners lined the streets, so many that even Duke could recognize only a few. In the desert, clans rose and fell too quickly to keep track.
The main street led into Vekora's bustling bazaar—an explosion of color, sound, and scent. The air was thick with spice, smoke, and roasting meat. Rows of arched canopies overlapped above the street, and merchants shouted over one another, haggling with fiery intensity.
The three pushed through the crowd with difficulty.
At one point, someone grabbed Taliyah's robe, yanking her toward a stall selling roasted desert vermin.
Sivir's hand snapped out like lightning—smacking the man's hand away. She pulled Taliyah behind her, her glare sharp as a blade. The merchant backed off at once.
Meanwhile
A tall figure swathed entirely in tattered cloth suddenly turned, his covered face lifting toward their direction.
"I can feel it—the scent of Ascended blood!"
"It's faint, but unmistakable!"
"I've finally found you… Dawn of Shurima!"
End of chapter....
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