Prologue

Master Kusho sat alone in his study, seated in traditional meditative form.

The blood red Ionian sun had set behind the the horizon and twilight splashed the sky with a deep blue hue with little white freckles. Master Kusho loved to meditate at this hour. The calm night breeze was just arriving from the North and it was not too bright as to distract him. This, Master Kusho thought, was the best time to meditate upon Watching the Stars. Pruning the Tree and Coursing the Sun were meditations of intense focus, but not Watching the Stars.

A sudden knock at the sliding door brought the peace of his meditation to and end. With a sigh, the Eye of Twilight stood slowly and shuffled to the door.

"What is it Kennen? You know better than to disturb a fellow acolyte during meditation hours."

Kennen blinked in surprise. "Master Kusho, how did you know it was me? I remembered to dampen the sound of my footsteps, just like you taught me."

A deep chuckle came from behind the paper thin door. Master Kusho could not help but be fond of the Yordle. He was one of his youngest and brightest pupils.

"Kennen, indeed you have dampened your footsteps, but you have forgotten to mask your chi. With one as bright as yours, it was not hard to tell that it was you, my son."

Master Kusho slid the door open and patted Kennen on the head.

"Now what is it you want to tell me? It must be of some urgency for you to come and disturb my meditation."

Kennen nodded. "Master Kusho, there is something you must see! Come with me."

Kennen took his master's hand and led him through the various hallways of the Kinkou monastery. When they approached the entrance of the monastery, Master Kusho finally managed to stop the energetic pull of the Yordle.

"Kennen, what's with the rush? Even for you, this is a little much."

Kennen looked up into his master's eyes and frowned. "Master Kusho, there was a knock on the monastery gates and…" His voice trailed off and he pointed at the subject matter.

Master Kusho opened the door and brisk fall air greeted them both with a gust of wind blowing leaves into the door. Kennen led him through the courtyard to the monastery gate.

Master Kusho raised his hand to open the gate. He already knew what Kennen was so agitated about.

With a great shudder, the gate glowed a light shade of purple and rumbled apart. The old but keen eyes looked down at the ragged bundle of cloth at his feet. Kennen clutched his robe and hid behind his legs.

"M-master. It's alive!" Master Kusho bent down and picked the bundle up.

"Kennen, I must apologize for neglecting to tell you of another duty that we must uphold at the monastery. While this is a rare occurrence, orphans have been delivered to our doorsteps before. Whatever troubles the parents of this child or if they are unable to take care of them somehow, we as Kinkou must show compassion, not only to spare a life from almost certain death in the Ionian mountains, but to protect the balance that we hold to such high regard. After all, someone climbed these treacherous mountains to get her in the first place. Let us honor their tenacity."

Kennen nodded but he was still hiding behind his master's robe. Master Kusho smiled gently and brought the bundle down to Kennen. "Tell me young disciple, what do you see?"

Kennen peered timidly at the bundle and was surprised to see a face looking back at him. "Master… this baby, he has white hair!"

Master Kusho frowned and upon closer inspection, found that Kennen was right. The baby opened his eyes for the first time to the great master. "And red eyes! What does this mean Master?"

Master Kusho furrowed his brow in thought. Hair as white as freshly fallen snow and eyes the color of the Blood Moon. "Kennen, go back inside. It is getting late. You must continue your meditations. I will take care of this, don't worry."

His master's smile calmed Kennen. "Yes Master!" he remarked with renewed vigor. As Kennen scurried through the courtyard, the Eye of Twilight waited until his disciple was out of sight. His frown returned and he looked back at the baby. Blood red eyes and paper-white hair… when have I seen this before? The master was lost in thought as the tall wooden gates slid shut with a groan.

~ A few days later ~

"All of my fellow Kinkou, I have gathered you here for a very special occasion. A month ago, my son was born during the hour of twilight. May the time of his birth be a blessing to us all!"

A cheer went around the large group of acolytes gathered in the monastery courtyard.

"Long live the master's son!"

"May he bring balance to the order!"

"The Kinkou is blessed to be in the presence of a twilight child!"

Kusho beamed with pride as he held his child up to the noon sun. "His name shall be… Shen, his path shall be straight and true!"

Cheers erupted from the onlookers. The naming ceremony was always a time when moods were high and duties were few.

Kusho gently passed his child on to his wife. "Shen is a fine name for a baby so strong dear," he whispered into her ear. Kusho knelt and picked up the small bundle at his feet. "Now, you all know that a few days ago, another life was brought to the monastery gates. He is not of native descent, but you will treat him as we treat each other. He is now a member of the Kinkou Order."

The great master lifted the baby from the bundle of sheets and raised him to the sun. Some of the acolytes gasped in excited fascination with the strange physical appearance of the child.

"He really does have white hair!"

"Why is his hair only white on his head?"

"What a strange looking child…"

Kusho looked up at the baby and smiled. "From this day forth, this baby will be raised as my own. His name shall be… Zed! The pursuit of virtues will be his path!"

Another cheer rippled through the crowd of people. This was a first for the monastery. The only time when two names were given at a naming ceremony was when twins were born. Kusho stood next to his wife as curious members of the Kinkou got closer to see the new members of their order. Shen looked about curiously and smiled at the others, while Zed merely looked up at the sky.

Chapter 1

Nine years… nine long years since the despicable man known as the Golden Demon was brought to justice. Khada Jhin… very few know this name, let alone the face behind the gruesome murders committed by his hand. I still regret sparing him to this day. Kusho was a fool…

Zed sat perfectly still atop his throne, shrouded in darkness and thoughts he usually leaves in the back of his mind. In this state of hyper awareness, Zed could hear nearly everything in the former Kinkou monastery, even the living shadows that his disciples created.

Kusho… Shen… I wonder how things would have gone if I hadn't...

Zed's brow furrowed as the unexpected rush of emotions disturbed the delicate concentration. His shroud of shadows collapsed and he let out a sigh of exasperation.

Why? Why are these thoughts plaguing me after all these years?

"Master, you seem to be troubled," said a voice directly in front of Zed.

Only Zed's lightning fast reflexes allowed him to not startle.

"Boy, you know better than to disturb your master while he is meditating…" he growled.

Kayn bowed with what Zed thought was a little to much flare. "Oh Master of Shadows, forgive me, I was merely worried why you had such a…" He paused for emphasis. "... disturbed look on your face while you were meditating."

Zed grunted and the bottom half of his mask materialized, covering most of the scar than ran down the side of his face. "Mind your own business pupil, don't you have studying to do?"

Kayn shrugged. "Finished. Yesterday. Didn't I tell you this already?"

Zed stood up from his throne and eyed Kayn suspiciously. "Really? Even the steps to mastering your living shadow?"

Despite his master's doubtful look, Kayn knew that Zed believed him. In fact, he had mastered the shadow technique, albeit in his own way, nearly a year ago. "Master, I am ready to learn your technique… You know the one."

Zed shook his head. "Shieda, you are too young and reckless to even be thinking about such a technique, especially with that Darkin. He will take over your mind if you let your defenses down. He's been trying for years now, and you know it."

"But Zed, I have mastered every technique you have shown me, studied every method in those stupid texts, and pored over every scroll given to me. I even train with those impotent, sorry excuses for acolytes every day! I completed it all much faster than they ever could! You know it Zed. I have potential to overcome even you!"

Zed's patience had grown dangerously thin by this point. "I took you in because I saw potential in you." His voice had taken on a hard edge. "I raised you since you were a child, provided nourishment and care. From that wretched battlefield came a tenacious warrior, yes, but I will not allow all that talent and bloodthirst go to waste just because you got impatient!"

Kayn looked at his feet, unable to make eye contact with his master. The silence between them dragged on for what seemed like an eternity before Kayn spoke up. "Glad to know that my own master doesn't even trust me…"

He turned and stormed out before Zed could manage a word. Zed sat back down on his throne and put a hand across his forehead, trying to rub the headache that had started to build.

Shieda… I am sorry but I am truly not ready to see my student lost to the shadows. Perhaps I am being too hard on him?

Zed slumped more than he sat as he contemplated what could be done about Kayn's hotheadedness. Kayn wasn't wrong, his skills and mastery of the hidden shadow techniques were far beyond the caliber of his other disciples. His proficiency with weapons were also admirable, to the point where he could best ten of his fellow acolytes with ease using a simple dagger.

It wasn't his skill that Zed doubted, however. Kayn had always had a knack for having a short fuse. Him being in the peak of his teenage years didn't help that whatsoever. He lashed out at his master more often than not, and is more arrogant than Noxus itself. Despite all of his shortcomings, Kayn had proven invaluable time and time again on missions of high profile. He had even saved Zed during that encounter with the Vastayan lovers.

Zed shuddered. He hated those two.

Rapid footsteps coming from outside his throne room distracted him from pursuing his detestable bout with the lovers. He sat up straight just as some of his followers rounded the corner into his field of view. He recognized one of them as a spy he recently sent to the island of Zhyun. He furrowed his brow in concern. If this particular spy had come back so soon, it would not be good news. He was breathless and ragged looking as he knelt at Zed's feet.

"Stand, brother of shadow. I sense that your news is urgent."

"Y-yes master… it's him.. H-he's back…"

Zed grabbed the man's shoulders to steady him. "Compose yourself!"

The man took a few seconds to catch his breath and was given some water. "I came back as swiftly as I could once I heard the news… he's back master…"

Everyone around him stared at him, waiting for him to speak.

"The Golden Demon… Khada Jhin has been broken out of prison!"

To anyone who gets to this point, thank you for sticking with me. This is my first story ever and I am not sure how it will be received. Any constructive criticism will be appreciated!

Zed has always been my favorite edgelord ninja and champion in League of Legends. His gameplay is so fun when played correctly and is highly rewarding. That being said about Riot's champion, his lore always fascinated me as a character. What lies beyond those shadows, his troubled quotes, that infamous mask of his? I want to expand his storyline and go in depth with all the nitty gritty details of his adventure and history, and maybe even expose a side of Zed we've never seen before!

Again, thank you to all who have read this far. Let me know what you guys think!