Yawning, Ezreal lazily drummed his pencil against his desk top bored. The lectures were always the same, write this, and calculate that, magic here, and tinker there. He was only semi-paying attention as his professor explained the concepts behind enchanting and alchemy. Growing tired of his drumming, he tilted his chair backwards slightly, with just the back legs touching. Staring up at the ceiling, he idly started drawing out a design into the tiling using his naturally gifted magical energy to do so. At first no one noticed, until a girl at the back of the classroom turned her focus onto him out of curiosity, and then followed his gaze upwards to see what he was staring at. The girl gapped in surprise and then gently poked her friend in the side to get her attention, before pointing out his detailed drawing. Her friend didn't look nearly as excited or pleased. 'Oh great, a goody toe-shoes…' He thought silently to himself. He continued to watch them silently from the corner of his eyes looking for any signs that she might tattle tale but she remained silent, and instead cast him a look saying that it better be gone by the end of class. To make it known that he had understood, he nodded his head slightly. Pleased with his cooperation, she smiled and turned her attention back on the teacher, showing no more signs of interest. Also satisfied that he wouldn't have to spend time in detention, he decided he might as well just erase the image now and then draw on paper instead. That was the logical thing to do, wasn't it? Although he much preferred showing off his talent, plus he loved the feeling of magic as it flowed through his veins every time he used it. It was invigorating and exciting. He remembered when he was eight and he had already gotten a higher level of magic down. At the time, he could easily rivaled junior high kids. He had also successfully mapped out the intricate underground tunnels of Piltover. The scholars had marked it as unnavigable, but he had proven them wrong.

A sudden poke in the back of his head snapped him out of his day dreaming and he tipped his chair back down before glancing around for the cause of the interruption. His eyes immediately feel on the same girl from earlier who was gesturing for him to follow her after class. Confused, but interested, Ezreal nodded and with a swipe of his hand, the image above vanished, like it had never even been there.

When the class was dismissed, Ezreal hastily gathered his things together, fled out the door, and then stopped at the far wall in the hallway to wait for the girl to exit the class. After the rest of the students had exited the room, she nervously peered out, looking around until she spotted him leaning against the wall patiently, before she fully stepped out to join him.

"So what can I do for ya?" Ezreal asked cheerfully. The girl blushed and looked away.

"I wanted to ask you something." The girl shyly replied.

"Okay. You've got my attention." Fumbling with her skirt nervously, she opened her mouth to speak but closed it quickly with embarrassment. An awkward silenced stretch out between them until she finally blurted out, "will you go on a date with me?"

"I uh…" Ezreal hesitated, unsure of what to say in return. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but at the same time, he didn't want to lead her on. "Well um…I'm sorry, I don't know your name…"

"Oh, my name is Miranda."

"Miranda, I could take you out on a date, but it's not going to be a close relationship kind of thing… does that make sense."

Miranda nodded her head sadly, but she beamed up after she realized he would still take her out on a date. 'I might still have a chance after all, but if not, I can just become his friend.'

"Then we can make it a friend date." Ezreal smiled gratefully for her understanding. He wasn't interested in dating, or at least yet. His job as an explorer kept him busy; it was a wonder that he even had a social life at all. "How does tomorrow work?" Miranda asked eagerly.

"Sure, I've got nothing really going on tomorrow, except for earlier in the morning and later at night. How does a movie sound?"

"Movies are so cliché, I was actually hoping we could go to my favorite restaurant. It's a small building, and doesn't receive very many customers, but it's run by my friend's dad and their food is delicious."

"Sounds great! What time?"

"I was thinking around 5. Does that work for you?"

"Yep. Then I'll see you tomorrow."

"Take care." Miranda called after him as he made his way out of the school building. Once outside, Ezreal conjured a small glowing orb into the palm of his left hand and absentmindedly twirled it around, deep in thought. 'Magic training in the morning, dinner later in the day, and then the high council men of Piltover summoned me for a 7 o'clock meeting. I wonder what the meeting is for. Most likely they want me to scout out an area and draw another map.'

As he was passing by the windows of random stores that trailed all along the road to his house, a poster caught his attention from the corner of his eye. Slowing to a stop, he turned his full attention on it. The poster showed an image of a large pyramid, with text on the bottom that read, "Shurima Desert, the pyramid of Achron Shou. Many have tried to explore but none have returned." Interest peaked, Ezreal took a quick detour into the shop. Walking up to the front desk, a young women with brown hair and green eyes turned her attention on him and smiled.

"Can I help you?"

"Um yes, I wanted to ask about the poster at the front window…"

"Ah, the pyramid of Achron Shou; it's said that a mystical treasure is buried deep within the core of the pyramid but none have been able to get close enough to confirm this rumor or legend."

"Legend?"

"Within is said to be a magical item of immense power that was created when the first rune war struck. As you know, there were creatures unlike any other that were referred to as gods living within Runeterra, however, uncertainly and wariness towards these otherworldly beings, and their motives drove mankind to retaliate, and thus the rune wars began. It was during their struggle for survival that man was able to master martial and arcane abilities. Mystical artifacts were also created and from there, rune magic was born."

"So you're saying that this item is quite possibly one of the remaining artifacts from the 1st rune war?"

"Yes, I believe so… but I have to ask, why the sudden interest?"

"Haven't you heard? I'm the grandmaster explorer of Piltover. It's my job to uncover mysteries."

"You're thee prodigy explorer Ezreal?" The women asked stunned.

"Why yes I am and I pride myself in it." He couldn't hold back the bragging in his voice. Being an explorer was fun, but it was also fun seeing people's reactions to him.

For a few moments, the women observed him out of curiosity. When she opened her mouth to speak, the first thought that can to mind was, 'here we go again…'

"I don't mean to be rude, but are you really? You're so thin and fragile looking." 'Hm… fragile, that's a new word. I'll have to add that to my logbook, and one more tally for the word thin…'

"I get that a lot."

"I've seen you walking by a few times, but I never really paid you any mind. It's actually kind of cool to know that you frequent this area."

"Oh, that's because I live down this road. The Piltover council gave me a house in return for the maps and artifacts I bring back."

"Are you going to try and bring back the artifact said to be contained within the pyramid?"

"That's my plan, and if you don't mind, do you think I could take the poster home with me?"

"Only if you allow me a chance to see the artifact up close on your return."

"It's a deal." Ezreal agreed happily. "I'll be seeing you around!" Taking his leave, he pealed the poster from off the window and rolled it up before jogging the rest of the way home.