I do not own any part of League of Legends. This work is written purely for recreational purposes. League of Legends is property of Riot Games.
This story was partly inspired by JonnyDeino's "To Love the Queen".
The Shuriman desert. An arid land of long-lost secrets. Entire civilizations fell prey to its shifting sands.
All but one...
The scorching summer sun beat down on the group of travelers. They had braved the harsh terrain for a week. The group's members save one wore light robes of a bleached brown color and turbans of the same hue. The leader of the group was garbed in shimmering purple robes and seemed to hover a few inches above ground.
"Here is good," Malzahar, Prophet of the Void and leader of the expedition, spoke for the first time since the journey's beginning. "Here we wait for the Void's next Champion. We do not have long."
The small group of five Summoners and four Shuriman mercenaries halted behind Malzahar, confused. The Institute of War had dispatched them at the Void Prophet's request to retrieve a new "friend" for participation in the League of Legends, but they had half-expected to travel to the fringes of the dead civilization of Icathia. The desert-dwellling mercenaries carried parts for a truss to carry the Void creature back to the Institute for a full mental analysis before it could be trusted among society.
After a delay of only a handful of minutes, the reason for the group's destination in the middle of nowhere became apparent. A slight tremor graced the Shuriman sands, before... something burst out of the dune in front of the travelers, spraying them with sand.
It emanated a harsh clicking sound from its divided jaw and gestured threateningly at them. Malzahar approached it and said, "Welcome, Rek'Sai, to Runeterra."
"Congratulations, young man. Your life as a full-fledged Summoner begins now."
An excited graduate of barely two decades humbly accepted his diploma from the Headmistress. As he bowed to both her and the audience, the light of the setting sun reflected off his curiously silver hair. His ceremonial robes of royal blue swirled around him when he straightened.
"Thank you, Headmistress Laurent. I am overwhelmed by this great honor."
As one of only fourteen students in his graduating class at the Institute of War, Devon Castel was a prodigy. His ability to multitask while mentally linked to another being was phenomenal. His malleable personality and open mind allowed for contact on the plane of thought with almost any being in Runeterra.
Which is why he was chosen, at his graduation, to be the exclusive Summoner of one of the League of Legends' less... human Champions. Since becoming accustomed to their minds took great amounts of time and effort, these living oddities were partnered with specialized Summoners, unlike the League's human and Yordle Champions.
"Do not thank me, Mr. Castel," the Grand Duelist-turned-administrator continued. "I have seen how you deal with popularity, which is the only upside of your position. While those who tame the creatures of the Void are well-respected, their minds are heavily strained. Some are cursed with insanity. Kog'Maw, for example, is on his fifth Summoner. The first two he ate, the next lost their minds. Are you certain this is what you want? I can always - "
"Yes, Headmistress," Devon interrupted. "I know I can do this. If not me, then someone else will become burdened with this task."
He was entirely familiar with the risks that accompany such a prestigious position. His instructors had drilled the details into his mind. He had even spoken with every current Summoner of restricted Champions regarding the challenges they faced.
Headmistress Fiora Laurent could only look upon the determined young man in front of her with tired eyes. "Then I wish you all the luck in the world. You are to be partnered with a new Champion. She is the fifth sentient creature of the Void we have met. Rek'Sai, the Void Burrower."
"I don't envy you, man. I've heard the Queen is a real monster!" one graduate, Devon's closest friend, addressed him as the newest Summoners left the ceremony for their new rooms.
"Yeah, it can't even talk! How are you supposed to even communicate with it?" another chipped in.
Devon's reply was instant, almost as if it was rehearsed. "Sona can't talk, either. How is Rek'Sai any different?"
"I dunno. I saw it a couple days ago when they brought it in. There's just something alien about it..." the first answered.
"I'm sure there will be no problem. After all, I've spent four years preparing for this," Devon replied, confident in his abilities. "If anything, I'm looking forward to getting to know such an exotic creature."
His friends and classmates had steadily grown further from him as his studies took him into the unknown territory they were too wary to partake in. His fascination with the otherworldly made him an outcast where he was once welcome. The next words of his onetime best friend sealed his fate.
"Devon, may the gods have mercy on you."
I hope no one is confused by my writing. I tried to be descriptive where I could.