The Beginning
A lone figure, robed from head to toe, face covered by the cowl they wore, all dark red, like blood, with a pack on their back not too heavy, but not empty either. Their hands were gloved with leather, rough and weathered, boots for their feet reaching almost knee high, moved through the bustling market, full of smells rich and sweet, vivid colors, and noises aplenty, made their way to the tavern, as if eager, as most are, for a nice drink after such a hot day in the sun.
From a first glance the hooded traveler saw that the it looked very run down, some of the logs, rotten and old, some windows broken, most likely from some of the many drunken brawls. It was obvious that the owner wasn't too interested in what is known as "hard work". That or he simply wasn't able to, the traveler did not give it much thought.
They had seen one too many taverns to know they would need to be on their way in the morning, maybe even before that. As they entered the musky and humid atmosphere of the tavern through the rotten wooden door, they could see what could only be described as a dead hour.
One man on one of the many tables passed out, evident by the fallen mug next to his hand. Blood stains on the floor and, other fluids which did not need more thought put into them. Wanted posters on the wall of infamous Noxian troops and generals as well as some man with a very, very big ponytail, a silent piano in the back corner. The traveler noticed the long table on the left, a stereotype of any tavern, the bartender behind it in front of all manner of alcohol. Announced by the squeaking door, he noticed the newcomer.
"Welcome to The Tall Mandolin" he said happily, "Rooms, drinks, food, we have what ya need if you have the coin!"
Obviously, a joyful fellow. He himself looked well kept, a nice fashioned moustache and clean clothes, from the white shirt only slightly unbuttoned, to the brown pants he wore, he had a positive air about him. He was a people person, the traveler's least favorite type, how lucky. As they made their way to the bar stool, still silent, the bartender asked,
"So, what can I do ya for fine sir?" again joyously. The traveler just pointed to a bottle of whiskey over the man's head.
"Ahh so you're a whiskey man eh? Well that is a fine choice if I do say so myself, brewed it this morning!", he said proudly as he poured the drink. "It's my own recipe so if ya think it needs something just tell me and I'll fix it up." He said with a big grin, which was almost comical as you couldn't see his mouth from his moustache.
As he handed the cup to the traveler he noticed that the gloves gave in quite a bit.
"Oi, in case ya didn't know, your gloves are a bit big." Inspecting the gloves from a distance, he started to speak again. "I know a shopkeeper down the road who will fix them up for you, just tell 'em Robert sent ya, they owe me a favor or two, Felicia her name is, so you should be good to go!".
The traveler nodded in appreciation.
Grinning again, he asked, "so what do you think of my famous concoction, Robert's Potion of Wonders I call it.", he said beaming with pride.
With surprise, the traveler had to admit it was good, as they gave a simple thumbs up the man was overjoyed.
"Finally, someone likes it yes!" he exclaimed jumping in the air whooping with joy. This brought a small smile to the traveler's face.
"Oi, so me was thinking, would you mind me knowing your name?", he asked with curiosity, "Maybe I can string a tale of the mysterious figure who enjoyed my drink!".
He was obviously a dreamer, thought the traveler.
In the silence Robert grabbed a mug, uncomfortable eventually, most likely from the silence, he asked another question, "So what are you doing so far in Ionia?", he asked. "Not many foreigners get this far as they aren't liked us much, so what's the story eh?", unconsciously leaning in, Robert was entering, dangerous, territory.
He spoke again, "you don't speak so much huh?" he said a little crestfallen. Robert suddenly lit up,
"I know!", he said loudly, "Maybe you can't speak at all, and you need paper, I'll go get some!" he said running off through a door behind the counter, the loud thumping suggested he went upstairs somewhere.
As the traveler took another swig, they let out a sigh, inching the gloves off to relieve their hand from the uncomfortable feeling, "gloves three sizes too big is honestly not the most comfortable." thought the traveler, "He is a nice guy, haven't seen as many lately, bit refreshing"
As the traveler continued their task with the gloves and their buttons, the door suddenly burst open, exploding outward sending woodchips flying.
The traveler jumped out of their chair ready to fight, gloves would have to wait apparently, half unbuttoned. The figure ran in, covered in sweat, clothed in a brown leather jacket, and eyes covered with goggles as well as his shaggy blonde hair, boots up to his knees, as well as leather gloves. His actually fit though, the most noticeable thing though was the gauntlet on his left hand, a blue gem on its surface, the traveler was entranced by the magic flowing from it, intoxicating them and almost put them in a dream-like state.
As they violently tore their eyes away from it, the newcomer walked with force to the table next to the traveler, "sir.", he said nodding his head in greeting.
"Is Robert here? I need to speak with him." The man said urgently, the traveler nodded, "Let me guess, said he would get you something in the back and is still gone?", he asked obviously having known Robert for quite a while.
The traveler nodded, the newcomer took this time to take in this stranger having a drink at his friend's bar. Robed all the way from head to toe, a cowl covering the face, and now noticing cloth covering more of the face only letting the eyes through, boots almost like his own as well. He then noticed the gloves.
"Umm by the way, did you know your gloves are a bit- ", the traveler glared at him. "My bad I'm sorry!" He said, unnerved by their demeanor, "Ok obviously a sore subject, man I always meet the strangest people", he thought with a sunken face.
"Well I'm Ezreal, what about you?" he asked holding his hand out in greeting, only silence met him.
Just then Robert popped through the door back to them, arms loaded with stacks of paper covering the entirety of his front half, scrolls, parchment, stone slabs? "Is that even considered paper?" The traveler thought.
"I didn't know what kind of paper you might need so I grabbed all of it I could find!" he said, as he turned though he saw Ezreal and smiled, "Ez! How have you been buddy?" he asked beaming at the ears. Dumping the comical amount of paper off to the side he came to meet his apparent friend.
"Well I've aged a millennia waiting for you, I got what you asked for." Ezreal said reaching in his pocket, having found it he slammed a piece of parchment down on the table. "There you go buddy, new alchemy recipes, you know this was guarded by a den of Murk Wolves, right?", he asked obviously a little miffed.
"Sorry about that, I didn't know honest, and apologies for taking so long I was grabbing some parchment for our mute friend here.", Robert said unfazed.
Ezreal looked at the traveler, stunned, he suddenly realized how rude he must have been earlier! He hurried into a bowing position. "I apologize with the biggest apology I can muster for being so rude to you there is nothing I can say that conveys my apology enough!", he exclaimed.
The traveler only nodded accepting the apology, but not wanting to be around these strangers too long, they pointed to the second floor.
"Oh!" Robert said, "ya want a room eh? Well that'll be five silver pieces for the night, 10 for breakfast tomorrow, wait but you're disabled so I'll make it seven to add the breakfast!", he said trying to mend the situation between Ezreal and this mystery person, whatever happened he didn't want the first customer to like his drink be too offended to come back!
They nodded holding up five fingers then switching quickly to two, symbolizing seven,
"aright!" he exclaimed, "breakfast it is, help yourself to the third room on the left, key is inside on the bed, and call me if ya need anything at all!", he said with a wink, retreating into the back.
Ezreal still feeling bad quickly stopped the traveler from leaving to their new quarters, "Wait!" he said quite loudly, it was almost a surprise that the man in the back was still asleep.
"What can I do to make up for my behavior earlier?", he said, almost begging.
The traveler smiled but shook their head, continuing upstairs, Ezreal however, was not finished.
"Please there must be something!", he yelled grabbing at their hand. As he reached he grabbed some of the hanging cloth from their oversized glove, specifically the one the traveler had forgotten to button back up.
Ezreal not knowing this, pulled to stop the stranger but succeeded in only taking the glove off, falling on his face half way up the stairs and tripping the traveler onto their backside. Both crying out in pain Ezreal looked up at the dazed figure on the steps, suddenly surprised, for in the commotion the traveler's face was revealed.
Ezreal was astounded, as he had just laid eyes on the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, hair black as midnight cascading down her shoulders, red markings on her face like the whiskers of a cat, and golden, mesmerizing eyes, almost like those of a wild creature. Astounded as the woman shook her head from the impact, Ezreal could see that she in fact had ears atop her head and a tail, no, more tails were unfurling behind her! She was Vastayan!
Realizing his mistake, taking it all in, the male appearance, covering animal appendages, the silent facade, and he just screwed it all up. As he looked back up at her she was furious, and if looks could kill Ezreal would be thirty six feet deep right now.
"Umm...I'm sorry?" he said with a very shaky voice.
They stood their in awkward silence, Ezreal realizing that he should leave, now!
"I'm just going to go now…" he said as he tried to back out, but suddenly for some unknown reason he was following her?
"Why am I going this way?! NO NO GO AWAY FROM THE SCARY FOX LADY!", he thought has he had no control over himself.
As he came closer to her, she held his chin and forced him to look at her eyes, those deep, golden, charming eyes.
She started to speak, in a soothing tone, surprising Ezreal.
"You are going to come with me and we're going to have a nice chat"
Those words scared Ezreal a little, regaining control, he realized he had a choice, damn his curiosity, he thought, as he followed her into the room, wondering what would happen next.
Unknowingly the shadow of a man outside the window of the tavern left the scene.