19

Hello everyone, this is the author, and how did you all manage a day without a new chapter, haha?

Anyway, we're almost at 600 power stones, that's crazy!

And one more thing, I've started seriously thinking about the fanfic idea of a Giant Dwarf forging modern firearms, magical swords, and anything else, whether fantasy or technological.

Do you have any works about forging for me to get inspired by?

I appreciate everyone's support and reviews, and here's to reaching the top 10!

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Katarina was feeling strange at this moment. Since returning to the camp and spending an entire night reflecting, she had an idea to try and be different from what she was created to be.

For the first time, she took the initiative to help others without being ordered or having any hidden intentions. She helped the villagers hunt, rescued some mages from patrols and small prisons.

She even saved a few civilians who were attacked by monsters, receiving their thanks and some sweets. It was a new feeling for her, seeing those people looking at her with admiration and hope, not fear and dread.

When Mark returned, she also noticed he was making a difference. Now, their interactions were different from the previous ones, which had many jokes and advances from her.

Just being together seemed to create a different atmosphere, as if they were now in sync. He was treating her differently than before, and he seemed to trust her more.

After receiving Mark's blessing, she began to feel a light connection with him. Whenever they looked at each other, she could feel he was more relaxed, content.

"Not bad," Katarina thought as the group arrived at the entrance of a sewer near the capital and walked through it, exiting in an alley.

The Demacian capital was very different from the Noxian capital. Katarina had always thought there was nothing more magnificent than the Noxian capital, the immortal bastion.

But looking at the Demacian city, filled with light and statues everywhere, she understood that what Noxus lacked was beauty, it had control. Everything in her city exuded power, control, fear.

This comparison made her realize once again the difference in values that Noxus had lived by compared to other kingdoms. "However, it seems that Noxus' problems also exist in Demacia," she thought, recalling the mage hunts and Hesbeth's experiments, which made her realize that despite the differences, some problems remained the same.

The group slowly entered the city, wandering through the alleys and rooftops. There wasn't much to do. The red and white hair of the two women were typical Noxian traits.

If they walked normally, even without the masks, it wouldn't take 5 minutes for a Demacian guard to approach them. "What are we looking for?" Katarina asked, noticing that Mark was once again following the wind, and he answered.

"We're looking for the Lady of Light." He said playfully, and Katarina narrowed her eyes. Despite feeling closer to Mark, she also smelled another woman's scent on him, something that made her have some doubts when he returned to the camp. She also had a peculiar instinct: if she allowed Mark to casually roam around playing the hero, she'd have serious competition.

However, despite her doubts about Mark, they continued walking through the city and soon found themselves in a more secluded area, past the noble districts. There were small gardens, and at the far end of the area, they found a young woman in her early 20s, reading a book while leaning against a tree with light falling on her face.

Katarina had to admit, she had a natural air about her, radiating like a princess from the fairy tales beyond Noxus. At that moment, she saw Mark hesitate for a moment.

"We were looking for her. What's the plan now?" She asked, and he hesitated for a moment. "Well, we have to convince her to ally with us. She's basically a walking missile of light and joy," Mark commented.

At that moment, he seemed to have an idea that gave Katarina a bad feeling. "You two hide, I have a plan," he said, then removed his mask, smiling, confirming Katarina's instinct.

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Lux was smiling, reading a book under the tree. It was a simple book that told the story of a knight who slayed a great demon to save a princess.

"Maybe I should share this story with Sylas, he might like it," she thought while reading, and at that moment, she noticed someone's shadow approaching. "You seem to be enjoying yourself," a man's voice said, and Lux lifted her gaze.

In front of her stood a handsome man with a shackled tattoo on his cheek and a cloak, making him look like an assassin or an alchemist, approaching casually, hands behind his back.

"I'm reading a fantasy story about a knight who saves a princess," she said casually. Lux naturally saw the best in people, making her incredibly naïve.

Mark casually approached her with a smile and said, "I never expected to find a mage, let alone a noble mage here." He said suddenly, and instantly Lux stood up, alarmed.

"Who are you? A mage hunter?" She said, preparing to run at the slightest sign of danger, but Mark, still relaxed, simply smiled and raised one hand. "I'm just a fellow mage," he said, and a flame ignited in his hand before quickly extinguishing.

Lux's eyes widened in surprise, but before she could say anything, Mark continued, "Don't worry, I'm not here to harm you, I was just passing by and decided to greet a fellow mage." He said, preparing to leave, but at that moment, Lux stopped him.

"Wait a moment," she said, looking around to ensure no one was watching, then put her hood over her head and signaled for him to follow. "Come, follow me, it's not safe here," she said, and began walking, with Mark following behind.

A little further back, hidden, "Wow, he's really good. Just a few words, and she's already invited him somewhere." Riven commented, whistling, but stopped making jokes when she noticed the slightly dark aura emanating from Katarina. "I hope no one dies today," she thought.

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Mark and Lux passed through some corners in the more remote parts of the city. Lux had experience escaping home and evading guards, so her knowledge was very versatile in the sneaky paths throughout the capital.

They moved for a while before reaching an abandoned house near the city walls. Upon entering, Mark noticed that although it appeared abandoned, the house inside was very well kept, filled with books and scattered items.

"This is my secret hideout," she said, entering and grabbing a chair for Mark to sit in. He smiled in thanks, "Thanks, looks like I'll have to keep this secret well from now on," he said jokingly, and Lux let out a light laugh.

"By the way, what's your name?" She asked.

"Mark," he answered casually, but noticed Lux's expression change to disbelief. "Mark, the Demon Mage of Fire? The bloody virgin killer? The one who killed his own parents and burned them alive for pleasure?" She started bombarding him with several titles he wasn't aware of, making him quickly raise his hands to defend himself.

"Aside from being a fire mage, I don't remember doing any of that, okay!" He raised his hands, speaking desperately, and a pause hung in the air as Lux stared at him for a moment, narrowing her eyes before letting out a loud laugh.

"I know you didn't do any of that, haha, it was the mage hunters who spread those stories, but I wanted to see your reaction," she said, laughing, and Mark could only make an angry face for a moment before laughing too. "Good to know I'm getting such great praise from them."

He said, and soon both stopped laughing as Lux sat in a chair as well. "But is it true that you defeated the mage hunters and rescued several people from the evil experiments of an alchemist?" She asked curiously.

"Well, that part is true," Mark said awkwardly, scratching his face. "Is it also true that you can summon fox spirits to fight and rescue people?" She continued, and Mark gave a weak smile.

"They're my companions, they're in the city too," he said, and Lux's eyes lit up with admiration.

They spent several hours talking amiably, and Mark even forgot his original purpose for coming here. In the end, he ended up saying goodbye without discussing the initial topic, just becoming friends with Lux.

Smiling, he slowly left the house with her before putting on his mask, and they parted ways, heading in different directions. "Did you have fun?" Katarina asked directly as soon as Mark reunited with her and Riven.

"Oh, yes, she was much friendlier than I initially thought, and she talked a lot," Mark answered casually but then felt a knot in his throat and stopped speaking. Looking at Katarina, he felt an ominous aura that seemed to be suffocating him.

"Idiot," Katarina murmured as she began walking, and Riven hesitated for a moment before giving Mark a helpless look and following her, leaving him standing there. "Damn, what did I do wrong?" Mark could only curse inwardly.

He hesitated for a moment, sighed, and walked in another direction, his instincts telling him he should distance himself for now, and he decided to trust them.

"Well, a walk around the capital shouldn't be a problem, right? What could go wrong?" he murmured to himself. Seeing that it was getting late, he decided to take a stroll.

Little did he know, a magical bird was watching him from the sky, reflecting his image in a magical mirror of Eldrid at a mage hunter base.

"I found you, demon. Today will be your end, Batman!" he said, smiling internally, then turned to look at the task force of mages behind him. There were the most powerful mages the mage hunters had.

Rain, a little girl with abundant dark magic power, Wisteria, a product of alchemist experiments with great power, and several other mages wielding water and earth elements.

"Let's go." Smiling, he led the group towards the city at dusk.

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Hello everyone, it's the author here. Just letting you know that I might post another chapter tonight, but it's not certain.

Also, I'd like your opinion on Mark having more than one lover. I'm not really into harem, but in a universe with so many prominent female characters, having two or three shouldn't hurt, I imagine.

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