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Above the clear blue sky, an airship made its way toward the Immortal Bastion.
The airship bore the national emblem of New Noxus and the Meredith Crest.
Inside the airship, eight individuals were seated and divided into three distinct groups.
A young man and two women sat together in the area with the broadest view.
A blonde-haired boy stared eagerly out the window at the approaching Immortal Bastion, exclaiming every few seconds.
"Ezreal, your eyes are going to fall out," Seraphine teased, her melodic voice carrying a hint of laughter.
Seraphine, who was both Ryan's apprentice and the nominal holder of the airship, chuckled softly.
Just days ago, she had concluded a series of successful concerts in the Twin Cities, her music captivating both Piltover and Zaun.
During her performances, Noxian flags adorned her stage, a subtle yet powerful reminder of Noxus' presence.
Thanks to the formation of a new lake on the plains north of Piltover, her audience had swelled beyond expectations.
Initially, many in the crowd seemed restless, but as Seraphine began to sing, her voice worked its magic. The audience became enraptured, their souls resonating with the emotion in her melodies.
Reflecting on this, she had begun to form new ideas—perhaps she could explore singing in a way that harnessed her music's deeper, more transformative power on her listeners.
A fresh stage, a new experiment.
Ezreal, however, seemed oblivious to her musings, his excitement palpable.
"Oh, this is the Immortal Bastion! The capital of Noxus. A thousand-year-old fortress! Do you have any idea how many places there are worth exploring here?" Ezreal's face lit up with a mixture of awe and excitement.
If not for the fact that the Immortal Bastion typically welcomed only Noxian citizens, he would have visited this legendary fortress long ago—perhaps right after returning from his expeditions in Shurima.
"The underground caverns hiding countless secrets, the ancient castle steeped in centuries of history, the classified laboratories of Noxian war mages…"
Ezreal's thoughts raced as he mentally listed the wonders of the Immortal Bastion, many of which he'd heard through tall tales shared by sailors and adventurers.
Granted, the brutality of some Noxian forces had left him uneasy, but Ezreal wasn't too concerned about fitting in.
His own experiences suggested that most Noxians, with a bit of charm and a drink or two, could be surprisingly easygoing.
"Mr. Ryan's intention is for you to establish a new Explorers' Guild near the Academy of War. The Empire will support you in this endeavor," Orianna reminded him calmly.
Before boarding the airship, Orianna had already been briefed on her role by Ryan. She was to serve as the Mechanical Instructor at the Academy and the external steward of Meredith Castle.
This role thrilled her. Not only did it allow her to showcase her mechanical expertise, but it also granted her the opportunity to accompany Ryan on his ventures to the far corners of Runeterra.
"That's perfect! Exactly what I wanted!" Ezreal laughed, brimming with confidence.
"Ezreal's name will soon resound across Noxus!"
The thought of leading an official Explorers' Guild filled him with pride. As for the one in Piltover? Oh, please. That was merely an informal group with no proper headquarters.
It was embarrassing to even call it a guild, in his opinion.
Seraphine, hearing the self-absorbed tune in Ezreal's soul, couldn't help but roll her eyes and turn her attention to the other side of the cabin.
There, two elegantly dressed figures approached. Their refined attire radiated power and sophistication.
"Hello! Councillor Medarda, Councillor Tallis," Seraphine greeted with a polite smile.
Ryan had taught her well—strength was only the first step to achieving greatness. True excellence requires knowledge, decorum, and character.
"Miss Seraphine, good afternoon. It's an honor to be invited aboard Lord Meredith's airship," Mel Medarda said with a graceful bow, her golden jewelry glinting under the light.
Her smile was radiant as she raised her glass in a toast.
Mel downed her drink with effortless charm in one motion, a gesture that carried warmth and poise.
Seraphine and Orianna exchanged glances, each noting the air of authority Mel exuded.
Jayce, seated nearby, looked slightly troubled, his expression clouded. Yet, he forced a smile and downed the wine in his hand.
"What seems to trouble Councillor Talis?" Seraphine asked, her curiosity piqued.
"He just ran into his former partner. It seems he can't quite reconcile with their choices," Mel replied, a tinge of exasperation in her voice as she spread her hands helplessly.
As she spoke, her gaze flickered momentarily to Orianna before shifting to the trio seated on the other side of the cabin.
There sat Viktor, his form encased in his mechanical enhancements; Jinx, unusually quiet; and Ekko, calm and composed as always.
Each had their own reasons for embarking on this journey.
Viktor's purpose was clear: he was entrusting Zaun's future to Ekko and Sevika. This trip was meant to broaden Ekko's horizons.
Meanwhile, Viktor himself was accompanying Jinx to the War Academy in Noxus.
After graduation, the plan was to return to Zaun and establish a branch of the Academy there.
For Orianna and Seraphine, their journey marked a new beginning. Both were planning to settle in Noxus and officially become Noxian citizens.
Mel and Jayce had simpler goals: to reconnect with family under the Medarda banner and, more importantly, to help Jayce grow into the responsibilities expected of him.
Their lighthearted conversation, however, was abruptly interrupted by Ezreal's shout.
"Wait, what is that? Is that… Giant Peak?! How can something so miraculous exist?!"
All eyes turned to where Ezreal was pointing, and one by one, their jaws dropped.
Amid the white clouds, a massive, pitch-black castle floated in mid-air.
The spires of the castle shimmered with an ethereal mix of blue and black light, shrouding the structure in an air of mystery and power.
"The outer walls of the castle are inscribed with intricate runes," Jayce muttered, his mind racing with analysis.
"To lift a structure of this scale into the air… the sheer amount of mana required is unthinkable."
His gaze momentarily drifted to Mercury's Hammer resting nearby, as if to draw a mental comparison.
He estimated that the castle's daily energy consumption would be enough to power tens of thousands of energy cannons. The realization was staggering.
Even at first glance, it was clear: Noxus was operating on an entirely different level than Piltover. The difference in strength and scale was like night and day.
For a moment, Jayce's dreams of rivaling Zaun seemed almost childish.
In the face of Noxus' sheer might, Piltover's accomplishments felt trivial—like children playing in the mud compared to giants shaping the world.
"See the difference, Councillor Talis?" Camille's voice cut through the stunned silence like a blade. She stepped out of the airship's inner cabin, her cool blue eyes fixed on the hovering castle.
"The gap between us and Noxus is far greater than you think."
"Ms. Camille, one day Piltover will reach such heights," Jayce said, his voice steady with determination.
"I'll look forward to that day," Camille replied dryly.
"But I'd like to give you some perspective. The castle ahead is the private residence of President Ryan. It was originally located on the Ionian island of Fae'lor and was relocated here through arcane means."
At her words, the group's astonishment only deepened.
Fae'lor, an island far across the seas near Ionia, was leagues away from Piltover.
For the Noxians to transport an entire castle from such a distant land to their capital spoke volumes of their mastery over both magic and engineering.
"We've arrived," Camille declared as the airship began its descent.
Her gaze lingered briefly on Jayce, Ekko, and Jinx.
Her expression was inscrutable—expectant yet contemplative as if trying to assess something about them.
As the airship drew closer, the full majesty of the Immortal Bastion was unveiled.
If Piltover was a beacon of prosperity, the Immortal Bastion was its opposite: a fortress of overwhelming power and enduring might, seemingly unshakable even by time itself.
The massive black gates of Noxus towered over the landscape, dominating the center of the fortress.
Around it sprawled a network of gray stone buildings, their austere appearance punctuated by banners of Noxus fluttering proudly in the wind.
Beyond the fortress walls, buildings from various regions mingled together—a testament to the diversity and conquest of Noxus.
Freljordian tents, Shuriman sandhouses, and even the intricate low-rises of Piltover dotted the area. Each architectural style told a story of assimilation and power, woven into the fabric of Noxian life.
Camille stepped to the forefront, her stance calm and commanding.
"This is the Immortal Bastion," she said, her tone carrying a weight of finality.
"Few who come here leave unchanged."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning, as the group prepared to disembark.