When he had first heard the whispers, he had assumed they were about him. It didn't take him long to hear otherwise.
Two women were laughing quietly to themselves on the far side of the room. A single footstep and their forms took shape. They stood huddled in an alcove and were facing away from him.
He took a deep breath and allowed himself to focus on the rest of the room, trying to figure out who they were giggling about.
On the other side of the room, another woman stood. At first, she had come back as a cat, a stiff-tailed cat who was trying her hardest to ignore the whispers that she could hear as well as him.
It took another sweep of his sense for her human form to appear, but the cat overlapped it still. It peaked at his curiosity, but he kept back.
The two women in the alcove began to speak again, "Last I heard she was hanging around Ezreal. That poor young man, new to the Institute and she is already prowling around him like he's a meal!"
"Can you believe that she was talking to Tryndamere? I heard Ashe was pissed and hasn't left Tryndamere alone since."
The cat-woman was frozen as the words washed over them. A few others sat near the alcove and could hear the conversation, their attention falling on the cat-woman. They began to snicker as the two in the alcove continued to gossip.
Unwilling to let the talk continue, Lee Sin brought his foot down hard on the marble floor. The resulting thump caused everyone in the room to become silent. The two in the alcove turned to look at him and he turned his head in their direction. He may not be able to look them in the eyes, but his presence was enough for them to decide on another place to gossip. The few sitting near the alcove quickly went back to whatever they had been doing previously.
With the gawkers out of the way, Lee Sin made his way over to the cat-woman and soon stood beside her. It only took a moment before she spoke.
"What are you looking at?" The cat woman hissed under her breath at him.
"I look at nothing." He replied, turning his head slightly in her direction.
His reply seemed to have confused her because soon she was turning to look at him and gave a soft gasp, "Oh. I'm- Forgive me that was rude." She shifted slightly, "Are you new to the Institute?"
He nodded, "I am Lee Sin. I recently was accepted into the League."
Nidalee cursed silently to herself as she took in the red cloth that covered the man's eyes. She had heard rumors of a blind man who had come to the Institute, but had ignored them. Very few things she heard these days were true. Her fellow champions had taken to lying to her to see who could fool her the most. Last time she had taken someone seriously, she had found herself in the gardens for hours waiting for a party that never happened.
"I'm Nidalee," she began, looking away, "I can remember being new to the Institute, such a large place and so many new things to learn. Not to mention the many new people and rules. Must be a lot to take in, especially..." she stopped herself, not wanted to offend the man.
"Especially since I am blind." He finished for her.
She flinched and nodded. She soon realized her mistake and answered aloud, "Yes." The man said and did nothing before giving a soft sigh.
"My senses are quite advanced and I have my own way of seeing things. Do not feel you must act differently around me just because I do not see as you do. I am sure you can relate, as I assume you see differently as the cat than you do as the human."
Nidalee's eyes went wide at the mention of her other form, "Has someone already spoken to you and mentioned me?"
Lee Sin shook his head, "I have spoken to very few people and none have mentioned you. I can sense the cat in you. She overlaps your human form."
Sighing in relief, Nidalee smiled, "Would you like a tour? That is, if someone hasn't already given you one."
Lee Sin gestured with his hand for her to lead and she took that as a positive sign and began to speak about the Institutes history.
They had parted later that night and Nidalee had felt so peaceful as she headed to her rooms. She ignored the snickering and the whispers, remembering the way the monk had listened intently to her words.
Reaching her rooms, she slipped quietly inside and tried her best to lock the door without a sound. However, as the lock clicked shut a meow rang out. Then another sounded and soon several more cats began to greet her.
"Oh hush up, I wasn't gone that long. Besides, I have gossip about our newest resident that you will enjoy."
The cats stopped meowing and leapt onto the bed. Nidalee began to recount her day as she prepared for bed.