The Thunder Lord

The rune wars, the most devastating wars to ever be fought in the land of valoran, thousands upon thousands died in the first rune war and even more in the second. Many didn't live to tell the tail during the wars, and yet he survived. He was known as the Thunder Lord a legend in the battlefield, a monster in combat. They say that he was capable of lifting mountains by just moving his hand and call upon lightning, some called him by his second title The Storm Dragon he was the greatest military commander that Ionia ever had.

He even held the title of Emperor the first and only Emperor of Ionia, he-" wait wait wait stop" interrupted a drunken man sitting left of Ryosuke "so your saying that he was once the Emperor of Ionia" Ryosuke nodded " yes, the first and only Emperor, now as I was saying-".

"that's bull shit," said the drunken man "that can't be right, your story is bull shit" Ryosuke just stared at his drunken companion as he took one more swing from his beer, the bar was empty at this time of day only some sailors here and there, it wouldn't get full until at night but Ryoske didn't like crowded places that much. He liked to be heard when he told his stories and when the bar got too crowded it was hard to talk over all the noise, and this part of bilgewater had a reputation of too many midnight bar fights.

"I have to agree with my friend, Ionia never had an emperor or never mentioned one in their history so it's hard to believe what you are saying Ryosuke," said a man sitting to Ryosuke's right

"well, I was getting to the part where I explain what happened to the Thunder Lord." Ryosuke said staring at the man to his left "until I was rudely interrupted" Ryosuke took a drink from his beer and continued the story.

"Truth be told no one really knows what happened to The Thunder Lord after the second rune war, too many records fell victim to the destruction and chaos of the war, but some say that he was too powerful for his own good. His own people started to question if he was fit to rule and out of fear that he would become a true monster they killed him in his sleep" Ryosuke paused to take one more drink.

"And some say that he left on his own will and died alone somewhere in the world" Ryosuke stood up and placed a silver coin on the table.

Picking up his hat he continued "but I'll answer your question about why he might not be in Iona's history."

"And that is?" asked the man to his left.

"Ionia is all about balance, they might have feared that the Thunder Lord would taint their image as a peaceful land and bring nothing but war," said Ryosuke "they feared that challengers would come to fight such strong warriors and that Ionia would never find peace"

"Ha look what good it did them with the noxian invasion and all." Said the man to his left "what a dumb reason to completely wipe him out of history. "

"Well, there might be a different reason to why they did it," Ryosuke said putting on his coat " the thunder Lord was not human, he was vastaya or at least something related to them, something much, much older, a creature that is now extinct."

And with that Ryosuke turned and walked to the bar's exit

"And what do you think happened to him Ryosuke?" asked one of the men.

With a sigh, Ryosuke responded, "I think that after the second rune war he saw that Ionia didn't need him as a guardian anymore and stepped aside to make room for… progress, he might still be alive because of what he was." Ryosuke resumed walking to the exit and as he opened the door one of the men called out "I still think it's bull shit Ryo." Ryosuke just smiled and stepped out.

As Ryosuke continues walking down to the docks he looks up to the sky the sun was starting to set, "what do I think? … maybe I just wanted to be forgotten" he said to no one and continued walking down his path.

*To think that after more than one thousand years I would be returning to Ionia or is it two thousand?* Ryosuke thought *is it the right time? Do they need me, my time as their ruler is gone, I'm the last of my kind…. I'm the last atherian* Ryosuke continued walking "maybe I should ask him..but I would have to go to demacia for that."

As he got to the docks he walked up to an old sailor and called him out "hay do you know of any ship sailing to Ionia?" he asked. Turning to see who was asking him, the sailor was surprised to see Ryosuke "by the bearded lady I thought I would never see the day you would ask such a thing Ryosuke" said the old man" but I'm afraid that there is no ship sailing to Ionia at this time or the next few weeks."

Ryosuke thought for a few seconds "what about the mainland?" he asked.

The old man looked through some papers "um there is one…..its destination is…wait it's oh its piltover" the old man said looking back at Ryosuke "it sets sail tomorrow morning."

"Oh piltover…I haven't been there for like what, 5 years?." Ryosuke said to himself.

"Alright what about the captain where can I find him?" the old man chucked "you can find HER in a bar located in rat town, she likes to drink before departing"

"The slaughter docks" Ryosuke responded with an unhappy expression, "I think I know who you are talking about."

"Do you have a bounty on your head Ryosuke?" asked the old man with a grin.

"ha-ha funny" Ryosuke responded, soon silence moved in "this …this is goodbye Tom…..we had a hell of a run together, you, me the crew…. I'm sorr-"

"Ryosuke stop," Tom interrupted.

I have known you for 65 years I've had an idea of what you are thanks to all the stories you told me as a kid and the fact that I'm a 79-year-old man and you still look like you are in your 30s, I know I'll never see you again and I know you like to be forgotten but know this…. I'll never forget you." With a sigh and a sad face, Tom continues.

" You were like a father to me and a damn good one, I knew that two things might happen either you would leave or you would outlive me so don't be sorry" Tom walks up to Ryosuke and hugs him.

"Goodbye my friend," said Ryosuke with a sad face.

"Go, I'll tell the others about you leaving"

Ryosuke was not sure about what to do, in all his years traveling runeterra saying goodbye was still the hardest thing to do, he lets go of Tom and starts to walk away.

As he is almost lost from few Tom calls out "Oh and Ryo" Ryosuke turns to him "make Ionia remember it's thunder Lord"

Ryosuke continues walking and calls back "Tom it won't just be Ionia that will remember me, it will be the whole world."

And with that, Ryosuke is lost in the shadows of the early night.