A promise. The Banquet.

Lanius walked through the forest. The night sky looked peaceful from the tree line. It sat at the southern gate of the capital. A week had passed after Sylas was defeated. Lanius started worrying about the Frostbite's Fist altogether. It could wait. They all could wait.

"Are you sure about it?" Freida asked him.

"I have to be sure. If he founds out the rune is missing without me telling him, he will surely go after me to get it in here. That cannot happen."

He found himself amidst an opening, covered by the trees. A man sat in front of him, one who's skin was purple, with many runic tattoos covering his body. His face was full of wrinkles, showing his age. Yet his looks deceived.

"What so you seek here, Winter?" the purple man asked.

"A revelation, Grand Sorcerer Ryze." Lanius replied with a smile. "Looks deceive. You do not resemble what you were before."

"The body changes, but the mind stays the same, sharp and focused." the man grunted. "Why are you here, I ask again."

Lanius' face drooped. "I'm here to inform you. I'm going to Freljord to take back what's mine. I've already obtained what lied in Targon."

Ryze closed his eyes, then inhaled. He exhaled and opened them again, staring at him. "You've not changed at all, Lanius...or should I say Aegon Varholl?"

Lanius shivered. He looked at him. "How do you know that name?"

"The face never lies. The prophecy also never lies. There shall be a man named Aegon Varholl. From man and spirit he shall be born. The red man shall take his tribe and so the mantle of the Winter he shall wear. Like Verhea and Baelon, an ice patch he shall have and once the red man comes back, like a phoenix he shall die then get reborn, casting away his false identity, becoming the true Winter. For his vengeance thirst the Volibear and the Elk of Bones and the Pale man and the Fear. All await his coming, all await the Revelations he shall bring." Ryze chuckled bitterly." You think I wouldn't know, Aegon Varholl? You think he wouldn't tell me prior to giving me the rune to hide it?"

Lanius took a step back, frightened. Nobody had uttered that name except his father and mother. To avoid the prophecy, his parents hid his true name,"Aegon" and called him "Lanius". As it seemed, not even that prevented fate.

Aegon, previously called Lanius chuckled bitterly. "So be it, Ryze. I wore this mask for far too long. I shall follow the prophecy."

Ryze did not reply for a few moments later. "The rune comes with great responsibility. Think about the chaos it caused. The pain..."

"You come from a time where runes caused chaos and malady, that I know...Ryze. Thus, I offer a compromise."

Ryze raised his eyebrows. "Such as?"

Aegon extended his hand towards him. "Should I ever fall mad under its spell for violence, you may come to kill me and take it back. Hide it here, amidst the other runes and should another Winter come to take it back, prevent him till your last breath. I give you this promise, having seen, even if it's through memories, the madness it has caused."

Ryze laughed. "So be it, Aegon Varholl."

...

Aegon gazed at the Demacian city as the snow fell, from the balcony outside the banquet hall. He wore a ceremonial black and blue suit with silver decorations, including a silver pauldron. It was tailored to his size and was delivered in the morning. Two weeks had passed ever since they reached Demacia and everything had gone perfectly smooth. Winter had officially come as a season.

For him, this was odd, as a new challenge always awaited the Winter.

"Oh, can't you relax already?" Freida prompted him.

Aegon sighed, rubbing his nape, his hair had been tied to a singular brain, just like when the first day they came to Demacia. "We are mere steps to our goal, Freida. To say I'm both anxious and frightened would be an understatement."

"It can wait. Today is a day about you."

The sound of heels was heard behind him, prompting the Winter to turn around.

Ahri, dressed in an elegant white and rose dress, with her hair tied in a braided bun with two silver pins in an "x" shape, approached.

"How do I look?" she asked, doing a full spin so he could see it from all directions. The dress had an open back, revealing her slender, porcelain back.

Ahri never wore any makeup, except a little bit of eyeliner and despite that, she always looked beautiful. So when she decided to wear makeup for the banquet -with the guidance and assistance of the maids-, Aegon knew well that she'd be the center of attention.

Aegon took her hand and kissed it. "Radiant as always."

Ahri giggled. "Same can be said for you."

He then took a white rose from his other hand. "One last little detail." he said and helped her place it on her hair.

Ahri stood beside him, taking his hand. "Lanius...I mean Aegon, what are you going to do?"

Aegon sighed. Yesterday he told her his real name. Although easy to swallow for her, the prophecy concerned her. "What if you won't survive?" she had asked.

"Time will tell. For now, let's enjoy the moment." he said "Ready?"

"Ready." she whispered as the doors opened once again, this time to the banquet hall, that was almost the size of the throne room.

The banquet was filled with nobles, Mageseeker officials and Demacian Army Officers.

As Aegon and Ahri entered, everyone instantly went silent.

King Jarvan was in front of them and cleared his throat. "Lords and Ladies of Demacia, our honored guest has arrived. Please welcome Aegon Varholl, the Embodiment of the Winter and his partner, Ahri of Shon-Xan!"

The whole banquet hall erupted in applause that lasted over a minute. After they were done, Aegon cleared his throat and spoke. "Noblemen and noblewomen of the great Kingdom of Demacia, I, my partner and my acquaintances are honored to be with you tonight during this banquet. I do not wish to take expend your time further, thus I will not follow with a speech. I simply and humbly hope that the Kingdom of Demacia has changed its views regarding magic for the better. Thank you for your attention."

With that, the banquet hall followed with another round of applause. Then everyone resumed to whatever they were doing prior.

...