"Do not fear the winds of change, they will always carry you forward!"
The sky-blue bird vanished, leaving behind only a whisper that echoed softly through the storeroom. Vi, Powder, Ekko, and the others exchanged glances. For once, even the fearless Vi gulped nervously.
"Was that... Janna just now?" she asked, her voice uncharacteristically low.
"Duke's still on the ground. That must've been her!" Ekko pointed at Duke lying sprawled across the floor.
The five of them looked at each other, then suddenly erupted into cheers.
"Whoa! We actually saw a god!"
"That was amazing! Completely unreal!"
"Oh my god, I can't wait to tell everyone!"
"Janna... Janna! I'm going to start worshipping her from now on!"
"Duke's the real deal too. Janna only showed up because of him!"
Craig's reminder quickly brought everyone back to reality. Vi rushed over and helped Duke up. "You okay?"
Duke rubbed the back of his head, wincing. "What a petty goddess…"
"Hmph!"
A coquettish snort brushed past his ear. Duke blinked and looked around. "Did any of you hear someone... snort just now?"
"Nope."
"You're imagining things."
"Are you sure you're not hearing things?"
"Pretty sure that was Janna punishing you for being rude!"
The others all chimed in at once, but Duke just sat there cross-legged, a wry smile on his face.
He was screwed.
He could already tell that getting on Janna's radar meant trouble.
Sure, she wasn't a full-fledged god, more like a primordial wind spirit, but her divinity level was still incredibly high.
And that last sentence she whispered just to him before leaving?
Definitely not a joke.
She was watching him now.
Being shadowed by an omnipresent wind goddess? Yeah, his life was about to become hell.
"Sigh…"
Duke groaned and nearly slapped himself. "Why can't I keep my damn mouth shut?"
He'd learned his lesson, never talk smack about gods or sacred spirits behind their backs. Sure, bad-mouthing mortal heroes might be unethical, but at least they couldn't hear you from halfway across the continent.
But with beings like her? Totally different story.
Talking about Janna in Zaun was like cursing Volibear in Freljord, mocking Mordekaiser in Noxus, or cracking jokes about the Aspect of Twilight on Mount Targon.
You'd draw their attention, and they'd force a Game Over on you.
Vi noticed the storm cloud brewing on Duke's face and asked, "You seriously okay?"
"I'm fine. But listen up, never blaspheme against gods or spirits. I learned that the hard way."
Dusting himself off, Duke got back to gathering materials.
"Still," he added, "despite the recklessness, we've all now caught Janna's attention. In a moment, I'll replicate this talisman I'm holding. You each get one. If you ever find yourselves in trouble, just call out to her."
"Is... that really okay?" Ekko, ever the cautious one, asked hesitantly. "Won't she be mad?"
"Didn't you hear her when she left?"
"Something about the winds of change leading us?" Powder murmured thoughtfully.
"Exactly," Duke said. "She's watching over you now. Don't feel guilty for asking for help."
"It's not like it costs anything to believe a little!"
Thwack!
A smack to the back of the head had Duke grimacing in pain.
"That's enough!" he shouted into the air.
"Hmph. Insolent brat," Janna's breezy voice whispered at his ear again.
Fed up, Duke whipped out the cutter made from a Superman wisdom tooth and began carving talisman replicas right on the spot.
If she was annoyed, so be it, he'd just be extra annoying in return.
"Remember," Duke said as he worked, "humans and gods are mutual. We offer faith, they offer protection. Keep these talismans close. In trouble? Call her. Otherwise? Pray when you remember. Feed her some belief, makes it easier to summon her next time."
"I don't know…" Ekko still hesitated, but Mero snatched one of the talismans with glee.
"Are you kidding? Divine favor? People would kill for that!"
"Mero's right," Duke said. "You can pray to her. Janna may be elusive like the wind, but she's a benevolent spirit, on the side of order. And most importantly, you're children of Zaun. Her children. So don't hold back, pour your heart out to her!"
"Hmph. At least you're learning," Janna's voice drifted once more through the air.
Duke continued sorting through the rest of the supplies, stretching with a yawn.
He was starting to figure her out.
Maybe, just maybe, he could turn this goddess into free labor.
"I've got everything I need. Time to go. You four, don't wander off. Things are getting messy out there."
He gave a pointed glance at Vi and Powder. "Especially you two. Don't act on impulse. Think before you move."
"Got it. I'll remember." Vi gripped the bluebird talisman and nodded solemnly.
Duke waved and walked out of Benzo's shop, leaving the others exchanging glances.
"Should we try it now?" Mero asked, holding up his talisman with eager eyes.
Craig nodded enthusiastically, both hands cradling his. Vi glanced from their hopeful faces to Duke's retreating back.
He had changed. A lot.
She took a deep breath and looked at Powder, who beamed at her.
"Alright. Let's give it a shot."
"Oh wind, guide us forward!"
The five of them raised their talismans high and sent a prayer to Janna. A gentle breeze stirred in the storeroom, and the bluebird etched on each charm began to glow with a soft cerulean light.
Avatar of the Wind, at your command!
That night.
Upper District – Collin's Workshop.
Duke pushed open the shop's front door and peeked inside.
Seeing no one around, he strolled in casually, plopped down on the workbench, and toyed with the bluebird talisman, deep in thought.
Janna didn't seem to have many followers anymore, but she still looked after Zaun.
He hadn't meant to preach, but it seems his offhand words had somehow counted as worship.
For someone like Janna, starved of belief, that had been enough to catch her attention.
After all, gods don't need to poop, but they still need to eat.
Crude? Sure. But true.
The act of carving and gifting the bluebird talismans had clearly pleased her.
Unwitting or not, he'd spread her name. And completed a ritual.
"Maybe… maybe I can turn this into an advantage," Duke muttered.
Click.
The light flicked on. At the top of the stairs stood Collin, arms crossed.
"Where were you today?"
Orianna peeked from behind him, eyes twinkling with good luck explaining this.
Duke glanced down at the talisman in his hand, smiled, and stood.
"Well, you're just in time," he said.
"I went to the lower city to pray."
"Pray?"
"Yep. A little devotion to Janna, the Avatar of the Wind. Worked like a charm, too. Want to give it a try?"
After all…
It doesn't cost anything to believe a little.