Hi there! Welcome to my first full-length story! Too bad if you don't like it I guess, sucks to suck. Either way, no reason to waste time, enjoy!
~Mooniie
Summoner-in-training Athala Winters had been quite the commodity when she had arrived at the Institute. A summoner from the Freljord? Such a thing was rather uncommon- if not unheard of. Who knew that people had learned how to use magick like that so far north? Well either way, Athala was here and ready to make her mark!
"What makes you think that she'll accept your request?"
"...Well it never hurts to try…?"
"You're doomed."
"Thanks, asshole."
It was times like this that Athala appreciated the sarcasm of the Time-Shatterer, or just his company in general. To their surprise, Lux had made her appearance at their table at Morgana's Bakery, listening intently on the pair's conversation. The two stared at the sudden approach of the Demacian.
"Who's going to accept what request?"
Athala rolled her honey-brown eyes and took a sip of her chocolate milkshake. She didn't like talking of such trivial manners in public! Someone could hear!
"No-one. Nothing-"
"Our gal Anna here is going to ask ol' Sejuani to fight for her on the Rift!"
In half a second, the Time-Shatterer had been punched so hard he was thrown across the bakery by a certain blushing Summoner who promptly sat back down in the leather purple booth and chugged her milkshake. She didn't even look at the damage she had dealt.
"Is that true, Miss Winters? You're going to approach Sejuani?"
Lux had made herself comfortable across from the flustered Freljordian, a small smirk gracing her elegant features. What was Athala supposed to say? No? If there was anything she had been taught was that fibbing made you untrustworthy.
"...I was thinking about it…"
With a quiet response like that, Lux found herself giggling, causing the Summoner to look away embarrassedly, copper coloured hair shifting to hide her soft facial features. In that moment, Ekko had returned to the table, rubbing the goose-egg he had attained on the back of his head.
"Aw, come on, Lux, don't tease her. If it works out, it'll be her first contract!"
With that, the Zaunite slid into the booth beside Athala, draping his arm over her shoulder with a non-dirty smile. Lux, on the other hand, began staring at the younger girl in surprise. Really? She didn't have a single contract yet?
"Wow! I had no idea! You have high expectations if you're going after her right off the bat."
"Wh-why do you say that?"
Athala looked up to face the youngest Crownguard with a curious expression in her honey-brown eyes.
"I've heard that she prefers summoners with more experience, which makes sense. She is a high-end level champion. I've also heard that she's beat people up for reasons that don't make sense- well either way, what I'm trying to say is... She might not accept, you know."
"W-well you never know until you try!"
Ekko chuckled and patted his best friend's head, smirking at the summoner's defensive stance.
"Say, 'Tala, y'know what completing a contract entails, right?" Ekko watched the gal closely.
"...No?"
Lux only giggled at Athala's response, getting up and skipping off to find her big brother. Meanwhile, Ekko had scooted a little closer, getting all up in the summoner's personal space.
"You should do your research."
"I did…?"
"Skimming doesn't count."
At this point, Athala was getting rather bored.
"So… Ya gonna tell me what it entails orrr?"
Ekko chuckled, a low sound compared to his normal cheery tone. That was only slightly weird to the northerner. Was he trying to pull a fast one on her again?
"To complete a contract, you have to spend a fair bit of time with that person, gotta trust each-other completely. Gotta…" He leaned in to Athala, a rather compromising position. "...Get in close."
To top that off, he winked.
"UWA!"
A swift headbutt from a madly blushing summoner sent the Time-Shatterer flying across the room once more.
"Ekko, you weirdo!"
And with that, Athala stood up and stormed out of the bakery, not even bothering to take her milkshake with.
Ekko, on the other hand, had landed right on Caitlyn's lap, where she had been having tea with her longtime partner, Vi.
"Sorry, ladies."
"Want me to rough him up, Cupcake? Just pulled a fast one on ya."
"No, that's quite alright, Vi. Accidents happen. Although… You looked quite certain with that summoner, Ekko."
Vi laughed as Ekko shook his head and got up, looking quite unimpressed at his fellow Zaunite's reaction to Cait's jest.
"Good day to you, ladies! I say good day!"
Ekko then moved to leave, only to be blocked by a most irritated looking Morgana.
"I assume you're paying 'Lil Red's bill?"
"Damn it.."
A FEW HOURS LATER
"You're going to the Institute! I'm so happy for you! Make friends, have fun, do your nation proud! Your ancestors fought under Serylda's banner, make sure you get close with Queen Sejuani, hmm?"
Why was Athala thinking about this now! It wasn't helpful! She didn't have time to sit around daydreaming. She had to think up ways to get a contract with someone. Only then would she be scheduled for matches. Technically, anyone would do, but if she managed to achieve a contract with the legendary Winter's Wrath… Everyone, especially all her friends back home would be impressed. But… Gosh, why did she have to be so nervous!?
"I… I admire her skill on the battlefield and that is it!"
"Who's?" Oh boy.
Goodness gracious Athala almost choked on air at the sudden appearance of the one and only Grand Duchess of Ionia, Karma.
"U-uh… M-my lady!" A swift bow should do the trick!
Karma could only smile kindly at the gesture, waving her tanned hand in a signal for the younger to rise.
"No need to bow for me, we are equals here."
Athala gulped and sat back down on the iron bench.
"May I sit?"
"O-of course!"
Karma seemingly glided over to the summoner and sat down beside. Athala wished she could be half as graceful as her.
"Now, tell me, Miss Winters. What has you troubled so?" If there was one person Athala would never ever tell a lie to, it would be Karma.
"I just… I'm looking to make my first contract, but… I have a certain person in mind."
"And that would be this 'she' I overheard you speaking of?"
"Yeah.."
Athala sighed and looked up at the clear cerulean sky. The breeze wasn't too heavy, and the sun wasn't in the eyes. A beautiful day.
"Who do you speak of, if you don't mind my asking."
The Summoner's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink, and she looked away from the Duchess, a nervous smile gracing her features.
"...Sejuani."
Oh. So that's why she was all stressed. Karma had first assumed it was someone like Katarina or Fiora, but she should have seen the first pick coming. Of course it would be Sejuani. Once, when Athala had just arrived, she had told Karma that her family had served the Winter's Claw for generations.
"Have you not approached her on the matter yet?" The Duchess asked quietly, taking a moment to quickly glance around and see if there was any eavesdroppers.
"No… Lux told me that she was really hard to approach, and-"
"You admire her, but you're too nervous to approach her." Cue another Athala almost choking on air.
"Wh-what!? Me!? Nah, don't be silly! I just… Eh… Yeah."
"Have you tried meditating? It calms your nerves quite fast."
"I haven't… I've been so busy, I haven't had the time to."
"Well, you have time now."
Athala nodded, looking back at Karma, who in turn pulled her legs up, and crossed them. The summoner quickly mirrored the action.
"Hands in your lap. Breathe. Think of all of your stresses just… Blowing away in the wind."
A large inhale of air signalled the beginning of Athala's concentration. In moments, the northerner had lost all concept of space and time, finding herself full of peace. Unbeknownst to her, Karma had stood, smiling gently and patted her head before continuing on her way. Probably to save Wukong from Irelia once again.
Meanwhile, Athala had been completely lost to her thoughts. In her mind, she saw her past, and her thoughts playing out before her. It wasn't spooky in the slightest. It was more… Strange. The first thing she saw was the cottage she and her family lived in when she was a child, right on the border between the Freljord and Demacia.
Demacia… Her father was from there. They sent for him during the war, and he went. But he didn't come back. It was then that her brother went looking, came back with nothing. That summer he taught her how to use the magick summoners did.
"I'm going to be the greatest summoner that the Freljord has ever produced."
Only a few years after did Athala see him off as he went to the Institute, but once he left, she had never heard from him since. She remembered that this was the reason she became a summoner, she came looking for him! Then she realized how stupid she was to forget.
Little did she know, time was ticking.
ONE HOUR LATER
How long had she been there? The woman pondered, standing at the entrance to the boringly peaceful garden, ice blue eyes on the younger with absent curiosity.
On the other hand, Athala felt herself falling asleep, but was she gonna get up? Wasn't planning on it, until…
"Hey."
The summoner's honey brown eyes snapped open. She recognized that deep feminine voice anywhere, not to mention it felt like it got a degree colder. Slowly, Athala looked up, facing the great Winter's Wrath herself.
'Oh boy..'
Aaaand that's chapter 1! Let me know what you think I guess, what do you think will happen!? Will Athala score that contract? Or will she get shut down harder than a fed Riven?
Find out in chapter 2, coming soon!