Heartseeker Tales

Chapter One: Varus's Curse

"How long must I endure this, Summoner Blair?" Varus growled as he looked down at his new outfit with a scowl. The sandals, the skirt, and his new blond hair all infuriated him. He glanced over at his now pink, feathery bow in his hand and sighed—he was actually beginning to miss the cursed blight that covered his body. Varus could hear some of the summoners snickering but turned around when the archer's eyes narrows at them.

"It's only for a few hours Varus. It's Valentine's Day!" The female summoner in front of him answered with a smile. Blair's hands hovered over a scroll as she looked over Varus's attire, eyeing each detail. With a snap of her fingers, the archer's pale skin became full of life. Varus looked down at his arms, he hadn't seen his natural skin in years—when he was alive to be exact. The summoner nodded as she circled around him.

"What are you doing?" Varus asked. He heard the woman snap again and the archer felt something sprout from his back.

"I gave you wings!"

"You gave me what?!" Varus turned and saw two white wings behind him. They involuntarily fluttered a hello to him and the archer glared back at the brunette summoner. "Do you mind telling me where you are going with this, Blair?!"

"Lighten up, Varus. You're an archer. You know who else is an archer? Cupid. He's a famous figure involved with Valentine's Day. He shoots arrows and makes people fall in love. Everyone will enjoy it!"

"Do I look like I'm enjoying this mockery of my archery talent?!" Varus snarled as he shot a glittery, pink arrow into the air, sending the rest of the summoners in the room running for cover. The arrow struck a lamp and then crashed into a table. "My arrows do not make people fall in love! My arrows end lives!"

"We will see about that." Blair smirked as her hand hovered over her scroll again. "As punishment for breaking my lamp and ruining my table, this cosmetic magic will be in effect until midnight." The woman chuckled while she closed her scroll, "Have an eventful Valentine's Day, Varus."

"This is humiliating!" Varus whispered to himself as he hid behind a pillar in the Halls. He glanced up and down the walkway before he rushed behind an open door. "Midnight… As I recall it is not even noon yet!"

Varus looked down at his bow, feeling his hatred rise in his stomach. He pulled an arrow from his quiver and glared at it as it sparkled in his hand. The archer held the arrow to his bow and pulled back, aiming for a painting in front of him. Letting go, the arrow sliced through the air and pierced the picture before disappearing into glitter, leaving no evidence of the arrow penetrating it at all. Confused, Varus shot another arrow into the painting only to get the same result.

"Odd." He whispered, "My arrow nearly decapitated summoners just moments ago. I wonder if what Summoner Blair said to me meant something. We will see about that. Now I'm curious."

Just then the archer heard two voices coming down the hallway. In a panic, Varus ran behind another pillar. He growled as he realized that someone would spot him and his big, white wings. Varus looked back at them.

"I must be crazy." He thought as he focused on moving the wings. They began to flutter slowly. The archer shut his eyes as he concentrated on the thought of flying. He felt his feet lift off the ground slightly and he peeked down. Varus saw that he had flown higher than he had anticipated—he almost bumped his head on the ceiling.

Now out of sight, Varus looked down the hall to see who was approaching—he saw that it was Shen and Akali, two ninjas of the Kinkou Order. Shen seemed to be explaining an Ionian matter to Akali in a really dull manner and Varus could tell by the look on the Fist of Shadow's face.

The Eye of Twilight isn't the most exciting person in the League. Varus heard that Shen had trained himself to rid himself of emotions. By doing so he could make the best decisions without his human feelings getting in the way—although the archer questioned if Shen has trained himself too well.

"I wonder…" Varus grabbed another arrow from his quiver and glanced down at it. Slowly he aimed the glittering arrow towards Shen's back, following him as he and Akali walked down the hallway. Varus let got and the arrow was sent flying towards the ninja.

"So you see, Fist of Shadow, the key to a successful meditation is—" Shen jumped up in surprise and he quickly felt his back. Akali glanced over at him when she noticed that he had stopped talking. The arrow in the ninja's back disappeared before he found it and his hands dropped to his side.

"Is there something wrong, Eye of Twilight?" She asked.

"I suppose not." Shen replied as he looked forward. "Now where did I leave off?"

"I believe my theory was incorrect." Varus said as he lowered his bow. "I thought shooting Shen with my arrow would cause some sort of reaction… like that Cupid fellow."

"The key to a successful meditation?" Akali said, obviously not interested in the topic at all.

"Fist of Shadow, why do you sound so..." Shen's voice trailed off as he glanced over at the female ninja. Suddenly, he grabbed her wrists in his hands and pulled her close. "Why… have I never noticed how radiant you are?"

"Excuse me?" Akali asked as she pulled her hands away from Shen.

"Akali is such a beautiful name for such a beautiful woman!"

"Eye of Twilight I would prefer it if you would call me by my title. It is proper between ninjas." Akali growled as she shoved Shen away, making him stumble backwards. He clutched his hands on his chest as he dropped to his knee. "What has gotten into you all of a sudden?"

"But Akali is the most beautiful name I have ever heard! I must say it, Akali!" The Eye of Twilight proclaimed as he grabbed her hand again. She held her close to his mask.

"I'm sorry that I have to do this but you left me no other choice, Eye of Twilight." The ninja sighed as she lifted her leg. With a swift kick, Shen was sent a few feet away from Akali. He groaned as he rubbed his head.

"I should probably even this out." Varus said as he sent an arrow flying towards Akali as she stared at her fellow ninja writhing on the carpet. The arrow struck her in the chest and disappeared before the ninja noticed what had hit her. The archer saw the woman's eyes flutter.

"Shen!" Akali gasped as she ran to Shen's side. She dropped down and grabbed his hands. Akali caressed his cheek as she leaned down, "You're hurt."

"I will be fine knowing you are here with me." The Eye of Twilight whispered to her.

"Oh, Shen!"

"Oh, Akali!"

"Oh, bother." Varus sighed as he turned away from the canoodling ninjas. He glared down at his bow, "I should probably not mess with these new powers." The archer heard the two ninjas get up from the carpet, looking back at them he saw them move behind a pillar.

"Oh, Shen!"

"Or I could cause a great deal of problems throughout the Halls of Justice." Varus darkly chuckled as he made his way towards the library.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope you all got something nice.

Now, I'm going to be honest here, I really dislike Heartseeker Varus. It's such an weird skin for such a serious champion, like how Soul Reaver Draven is too serious for a character like Draven.

See you next chapter.