Despite it's name, the Institute of War was a school built to help garner peace across the continent of Valoran. In fact, after the second Rune War, the world of Runeterra faced an almost certain destruction if the people didn't change their ways. So a man who had lost everything stepped forward and called for a truce. Thankfully, the leaders were not deaf to this man's words and while the tension remained, the fighting ceased. It was then that the man built the Institute, located on the borders of once warring nations. He invited the nations to send their youths so that they may not be taught war, but instead learn from it.
But this was decades ago and Valoran has since remained in a state of peace. The youths who were attending today knew only of war from their history books. The Noxian students and the Demacians may not always get along but there was no bloodshed. Piltover and Zaun may have different world views but here their future shared dorm rooms and school halls.
The school itself was a large brick building, three stories tall. Immediately inside the gates was the quad, surrounded by the side wings of the school. On the far end of the quad was the building's main entrance, two massive wooden arched doors. Due to the size of the doors they were usually kept open all throughout the school year, leading into a small entrance room with much more reasonably sized doors to keep the weather out.
It was here that the students were gathering. Many returning students waited around the courtyard, sitting on the benches that lined the building or simply using their luggage as seats, waiting to see their friends again after spending a summer away. The new students, anxious and excited, made their way straight for the main entrance guided by faculty and certain responsible upperclassmen. Occasionally a bus would stop off to be greeted with cheers from friends, or a limousine would herald rumors and hushed conversations as the hired help opened doors and carried suitcases.
Principal Zilean watched all this from his office window, third floor, directly above the main entrance. Though the commotion outside wasn't entirely muted from here, it was overpowered by the sound of a large grandfather clock ticking away. The principal, an old man with long white hair and a long white beard, found the sound soothing. It had a rhythmic elegance to it. A reminder that all things must and will continue on.
The vice-principal though simply found it annoying. A gruff, muscular man who towered over the principal and most people in general. Though he was not as old as the principal, he too had white hair. In contrast to the principal's hair, which grew untamed, the vice principal's was kept neat and orderly, layered down the back of his neck. He clenched his teeth and jutted his square jaw out as long as he could keep silent. He had finally decided he couldn't take it anymore.
"Must we listen to that unbearable clock?" he bellowed in a deep, rumbling voice.
"I knew you would say that," the old man replied, his voice breathy and soft. "Honestly Volibear, every year I invite you to my office to watch the students return and every year you complain about my clock. Ah, but perhaps it is part the tradition now."
"Your tradition is a foolish one old man. Our staff is limited as it is and every year brings more and more students to the Institute. Look at them, disorganized and complacent. There is still much to do yet we stand around."
"In good time," the old man calmly assured.
"If you wished to run a school so devoid of order and rules then I question why it is you brought me on as vice principal." The massive man looked at the principal waiting for a response, but as if scheduled to prevent any explanation there was a knocking at the door. The old man simply turned his eyes towards his companion, smugly excused from the conversation. "Come in," roared the vice principal.
The door opened and one of the teachers stepped in, keeping the door behind him open as he did. A younger man than the two present, he had dark skin and a long, dark pointed goatee. He wore thin square spectacles low on his nose and held a large book under his arm. Professor Ryze was simply old fashioned like that. While other teachers kept all their papers and records in digital format, Ryze preferred to keep everything analog. Another peculiarity of his, and rather more apparent than his methods, were the tattoos covering his body. Running over his hands, up his neck and across his bald head were bold, simple patterns telling of the man's suspect past.
"All students who will be in attendance this year have arrived," he informed in his raspy voice. Opening his book to the exact page where he had been keeping a headcount, somehow not needing to flip a single page more than necessary, he double checked his facts before slamming the book shut in satisfaction. "The students are being assigned to their dorms now and, if this pace keeps, we should remain on schedule for the orientation."
vice principal Volibear, having heard enough, stormed across the room. "I'll insure we remain on schedule. If no one else will!" As he made his way out of the room and down the hall he could be heard saying to himself, "Sniveling cubs..."
The professor, having given the large man a wide birth, cleared his throat and stepped closer to the principal. He didn't quite stand at his side simply because he didn't wish to overstep his boundaries as he asked, "Zilean, if I may be so bold, why did you bring him onto your staff? As vice principal no less."
"Ryze, when I built this school I had one goal in mind. Bringing together a peaceful Valoran for the sake of Runeterra. Volibear is from the northern Freljord where his tribe, the Ursine, mostly remained neutral during the Rune Wars. It wasn't until after the truce was made that he had decided to urge his tribe to fight. He added his forces with another tribe which further instigated the civil war wracking the Freljord. When I first heard this I was furious. An armored bear, as we used to call their warriors, was breaking their long era of peace now after we had agreed to herald in a new age?
"But I knew I couldn't let anger be any sort of resolution. If I had refused to acknowledge his people then we'd never achieve peace. So after inviting him on and after much persuasion, he finally agreed to join the Institute staff."
"So, you wish to keep your enemies closer?" the professor waxed poetic.
"You can say that. But I've also grown to realize that maybe this school needs him." From the quad below the vice principal could be heard clearly from the office as his orders thundered out across the courtyard to the students, forcing them to move along and fall in line.
The day had passed on and, with the help of the vice principal, all the students had been assigned their dorms and moved in on schedule. The new students had been given a tour of the campus, starting with the main school building itself. Behind the school were the two student halls, broken up by gender. Between them was another courtyard with stone paths leading from each building to a large decorative fountain. Well polished dark wood benches broke up the trees every so often that lined the walkways. Beyond the student dorms was the great gymnasium and the large auditorium building. Beyond that, the many sports fields expanded out to the tree line.
It was in the auditorium that the students were now gathering. While the new students sat in the front closest to the stage, the returning students found space next to their friends in the seats further back. Each conversation, not entirely too loud, began to compound on the next until the filled out amphitheater was a cacophony of noise.
The conversations grew more hushed as the teachers began to take the stage, the back of which was line with chairs. A single lectern stood front and center with a microphone protruding from it's top. As the teachers and staff took their seats, the principal approached the stand and tapped the microphone twice.
THUMP THUMP.
"Hello? Is this thing on? Ah yes, good. Good. Everyone, may I have your attention please?" The students mostly quieted their conversations, though he still didn't have their undivided attention. As he tried asking again the vice principal roared out from his seat, arms crossed, not needing a microphone to be heard. Silence followed until the old man spoke again.
"Ah, yes, thank you for that. Welcome students old and new to the Institute of War! I hope you are as excited for the new school year as we are. It is a pleasure to see our returning students, as well as the new faces up here in the front. I have a feeling this year is going to be even more stimulating than ever. As the year marches forward, I would like all of you to remember that while it may seem like it drags on, the time will pass us all too quickly. Be sure to take it in and not lose that most precious of resource. Time, after all, flies like an arrow. Fruit however flies like a banana."
The joke was greeted with an all too awkward silence. A few people thought about laughing, one even attempted it but quickly disguised his bad decision as a cough and slunk further into his seat. The vice principal put his massive hand to his face and shook his head.
Finally, the principal continued. "I assure you that was quite funny at one point. Anyway, moving right along I'd like to introduce our staff and welcome them all back with us. Most of you have already met, and I'm sure have already developed a healthy fear of, our vice principal Volibear."
The large man stood from his chair and simply looked out at the students as they respectfully clapped for him. Having received sufficient praise he took his seat again and folded his arms for the remainder of the ceremony.
As the old man proceeded to call out the teachers, the students would clap and cheer to varying degrees. Some of the more popular teachers included professor Ryze (math), Mr. Taric (language arts) and Ms. Fiora Laurent (art). The rest of the teachers; Mr. Warwick (science), Mr. Jericho Swain (history), Mr. Renekton (physical education) and Mr. Viktor (shop class) received respectable applause. The ceremony then proceeded to introducing the non-teaching staff at the school. Librarian Nasus, counselor Shen, nurse Akali. Finally the custodian Nautilus, as well as the cooking staff Brand and-
"MUNDO would like to thank all of students for being here today! Mundo knows all students have biiiiig appetites and Mundo assure there be many nutritious meal choice to choose from." Satisfied with himself, Mundo nodded proudly as he stepped away from the microphone and returned to his seat.
"Thank you Mundo for your... impromptu words. As the ceremony comes to a close, I'd just like to say once more: Welcome to the Institute of War."