The Legend of the Golden Demon
"So kid," Gragas rumbled, his jowls rumbling as he spoke. "What's the first on Yer list." He picked up his tankard, and downed it, before frowning.
Kenshi consulted his scroll, his brows furrowed and he said. "The Golden Demon incident."
Gragas put his tankard down, and let out a large burp before he turned to face the young man.
"Oh. That."
"I know the beginnings, about how it was a stagehand named Jhin, but he escaped. I also know he's dead. But how did he die? How did it happen?"
Gragas grimaced. "You get to the dark stuff first eh kid? Yep, he's dead. Killed by the Eye of Twilight himself, though he wasn't alone… and it didn't come without a cost."
Shen knelt down, his hands grasping a small blade of grass as he curiously inspected it. He turned it around, looking for something discernible, or anything out of the ordinary. Satisfied, he stood up, before turning around. The woman was sat in her chair, right outside of her traditional Ionian residence. She held a look of peacefulness, and looked positively serene other than the bullet hole in her head. There was no blood, just bits of brain matter spattered across the ground. Shen had been scanning for the bullet, or any sign of the shooter.
Behind him, a dark shadow loomed over, shrouding Shen in darkness. He didn't turn around, nor did he react.
"Find anything?"
The shadow morphed into a blur, before it revealed itself as a dark, crimson ninja.
"Nothing around. Firearms. This does not bode well." Zed grumbled in frustration. "When the people find out that… he was doing these things, panic will set in."
"Yes, but there is something worse." Shen stood up, before closing the woman's eyes.
"What is it?" Zed asked, hesitatingly, almost scared to hear the answer.
"The monster… this murder remains too simple. A simple bullet will have been to easy for him, even if he fired it from far away. I can't find the bullet, and that means-"
Zed finished the sentence. "More than one was killed tonight. We need to move farther down."
Almost as if in response to their deductions, an ear-piercing scream was heard, further down into the village.
They rushed down as soon as they could, running into a young child at the foot of the village, eyes bloodshot, and shivering. The sight of two ninjas didn't do much to allay her fears. She screamed in fright, and her face turned white as snow. Her legs began to buckle, as she began to stumble on her feet. Shen quickly took off his mask, before hurrying to her.
"We mean no harm, little one." Shen said, in as gentle of a tone as possible.
She swayed on her feet, unsteady, before tottering to the floor, the last of her strength leaving her. Shen moved to catch her and gently laid her to rest. It was only then she finally spoke.
"I… Mother… Father… The house…" She said weakly, before she closed her eyes.
Zed finally moved, but Shen waved him away. "She is in shock, but will recover. I will watch over her. Inspect the house."
Zed nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He looked to the other houses, all lit, with several men and women stepping out of their dwellings to see what the commotion was all about. There was one house, it's doors open, and Zed could see something at the stairs leading out of the house. Crimson.
The human body had the ability to house a great deal of blood, and a severed artery tended to spray a great deal of it out. Blood spatter painted the walls in a macabre painting, as Zed clenched his fists in rage. A young couple was on the floor, their bodies several feet apart, but their hands outstretched towards each other, as if to hold each other in a last loving embrace. Their necks were slit, though not by a knife. A bullet had deftly scraped their necks to pierce the arteries within, spraying blood spatter in a grotesque pattern throughout the room.
The Golden Demon had killed 3 in one shot.
Zed realized something was amiss, that this was not the usual procedure of the demon, and he looked around for a bullet trail, or a photo, anything that would tell him what he was looking for.
He found it in the spare bedroom. A boy was there, not even at his teenage years, lying face-up on the floor. He'd been drawing, the painting obscured by a splash of blood. In all of Zeds rage, he forgot the most crucial thing about Khada Jhin.
He worked in fours.
Kenshi shuddered, though not from the cold. Gragas was a terrifying storyteller. His large size and jolly voice did not detract from the chilling way he had described the murderer known as the Golden Demon. Gragas told the tone in a past tense, but he still made Kenshi look over his shoulder, scared that at any second a round might deliver him straight to the Kindred.
Gragas had stopped to take a drink when he noticed the fearful look in his listener's eye.
"You don't need to be to scared kid. This happened a long time ago. Besides, who'd come to the Freljord at a time like this?"
The plumpish bartender gave his best smile, and Kenshi couldn't help return one in return.
"Please continue, I'd like to hear more."
"Don't rush, lemme finish me drink."
Khada Jhin made his way through the bustling market, a straw hat pulled over his head, and a cane at his side to aid him. While he did not require one, the appearance of a frail cripple tended to shoo away prying eyes.
His past performance had been sublime, a divine showing of his artwork. The two ninjas would be impressed, dazzled by his beautiful voice. Yet the hunger lingered… to be better… to be perfection.
The people that had set him free never expected he would so quickly turn on his masters. Khada Jhin's beauty did not require direction. Their bodies would never be found.
He'd moved slowly north after he received his equipment, unable to resist the bustling trade routes between Ionia and Freljord. So many people, so many opportunities, so many places to paint his artwork.
The market… yes… this would be where the puppets would dance, dance on his strings, moving to their positions. Then, when the Ninjas would find their way here, they would find themselves captive audience to his performance.
He made his way to a place offering lodging, and made himself look as helpless as possible. He knocked… one… two… three… four times. It had to be four. It always has to be four.
"This carriage driver mentioned he'd ferried a man from the village… here." Shen mentioned, as they stopped in front of the market.
"So many people. This will not end well." Zed added. "If you'd allow me to bring my disciples here-"
"I bid them stay for the same reason you do not see Akali nor Kennen here. Your students would not hesitate to slay me. Kennen has duties to perform in Ionia, and Akali is young, not strong enough to understand the true ways of the world. She is also more deadly than you know. You would be cut down where you stood, before you even caught a whisper of her. She is the deadliest assassin you will never see. " Shen replied, a hint of pride in his voice.
Zed was quiet, before he replied." There are an unusual amount of merchants and traders here, even for this village. Something is happening."
"It is the blossom festival. Many tourists come to see the flowers blossoming in the trees." Shen explained, as a flower gently drifted down from the tall trees that loomed beside the market. He deftly caught it, and the whisper of a smile crossed his lips, before he kept the flower in a small pouch.
Zed saw Shens actions, and began to comment, but stopped. They had reached their destination. When in doubt, the best place to find information was the local tavern.
They opened the door, just in time to let a swordsman out. He possessed peculiar goggles, and his blade was ancient, but tempered and humming with power. A Wuju swordsman. After the Noxian invasion, there weren't many left.
Inside the crowded tavern, a great deal many were bustling about, eating food, drinking, talking, and generally passing the time. Shen immediately headed towards the Bartender, a large, heavy-set man.
"Greetings. My name is Shen. I have several questions."
Zed simply leaned against the wall inspecting his shurikens and watching as the people in the tavern started, before slowly edging away from him.
Gragas smiled, and replied. "Fire away, but have a drink at least. And stop your friend from scaring my guests."
Shen turned, and Zed shrugged before walking towards the table.
"Some rice wine." Zed said, before he took off his mask.
If the masked ninja wasn't already scary enough, the man with a wicked scar across his left eye served to promptly terrify everyone else.
To his credit, Gragas wasn't the least bit fazed. He'd probably seen worse. "One glass of rice wine, sure."
As Gragas went to pour some into a crystal tumbler, Shen began to ask his questions.
"Do you know a place to stay here?"
Gragas put the glass down, and Zed nodded appreciatively before dropping several coins on the table. Gragas picked them up with his large fingers, before he answered.
"In fact, there's only one. Its just up the street, it's got a couple rooms for the men and women shacking up for the blossom festival."
"Thank you. And have you seen anyone new, or suspicious recently?"
Gragas furrowed his brow, as if in thought. "Hrm. There has been a lot of people coming and going lately, so it's been hard to keep track of people. There is one man though, but he's not really suspicious."
Zed caught Shen's eye, and put down his drink before asking. " What about him."
"He's a cripple. A bit confusing why someone who walks with such a severe limp would come here. I mean sure it's quite beautiful and all but, to see everything you have to climb the mountains. Also, he came alone. Not usually a lot of people come alone to see the blossom festival. You might catch him later, he normally comes around late evening."
"Is there a place where we can see the entire market and town?"
Dusk had fallen, and Zed and Shen had taken up positions watching the town. When the old man arrived, they would reveal his true self. They were both tense, and uneasy. Too many people had died as a result of the Golden Demon's actions. Night slowly began to fall, and people outside in the market had begun to light lanterns, illuminating the town in a dim orange light. All around, people were walking around, smiling, and enjoying their lives, unaware of the impending terror.
Suddenly, an explosion occurred, and the song of knives cutting flesh sounded through the town. People began screaming, as Shen and Zed quickly dropped from their perch atop a small hill, rushing towards the scream.
They arrived at a scene of utter carnage. Men and women around were vomiting, and fainting, some with wounds across their bodies, jagged and wicked cuts. At the epicenter of it all, a couple lay, pieces of their bodies strewn around the floor from the deadly knife trap that had dismembered their bodies completely.
The woman was in the center of it; her body cut open, her stomach torn and revealing her innards inside. The knives were on top of her, attached by springs and pressure, curled in the shape of a lotus blossom.
"Shen, He doesn't just kill two people. More people will run, and they will run straight into the traps." Zed warned. "We need to stop the panic."
Shen nodded, wordless, before he projected his voice, loud enough so that everyone in the town could hear. "Men and women, do not make sudden movements, please stay calm. Return to your homes as soon as possible, or find any building to enter. Do not stray away from the main roads." As soon as he finished, Shen began to move, slowly and carefully, using his stern voice to lead people to safety.
Zed immediately disappeared, most likely using his shadows to corral people to a safe area. If people wouldn't listen to Shen, Zed's shadows served to scare people into following him.
After several minutes, it seemed as though the men and women were safe. Then, the second trap exploded, and hollowness caught in Shen's chest. It was in the tavern, a small table upstairs. The explosion had killed half a dozen, knives burying themselves in chests, necks, a horrific sight. At the epicenter, this time a man, eyes wide open in fear, and disbelief that his life would end like this.
The rest of the people in the tavern were shocked silent. Some began to laugh maniacally, before sobbing. Some began to babble uncontrollably. All had seen the Golden Demons performance, and none would forget it.
Shen and Zed had corralled people into their houses, and anywhere indoors for safety. Jhin had known that, and planned for it.
Zed exited the tavern, and roared with rage, and fury. Shen exited, heaviness in his heart. As the wind whistled through the now deserted streets, he could almost hear the deranged laughter of a psychopath.
The Jyom pass linked the market to the central city of Ionia, Kashuri. It was the only way to get to the city from the outskirts of Ionia. It was used partly as a means of defense as well as a way to entice visitors from other places to come. The pass was a beautiful place, a selection of several large bridges over a large cliff, and beneath it, nothing but rushing water into the great sea. On one end was the great city of Kashuri, with towering beautiful buildings, and on the other end it was the large unending forests that Ionia was so famous for. Legend said that a beautiful woman lived in the forest, preying on unsuspecting men for their souls.
Shen and Zed knew that Jhin was coming here, tracking the "Old man in a straw hat", following his trail, and trying to get ahead of him while preventing his killing spree. By tracking his path, his final destination was clear. Kashuri. What he intended to do there, Shen and Zed were unwilling to find out.
The cliff gave brilliant views overlooking the Jyom pass, and Shen and Zed knew that. It was why they decided to ignore it. Too many times they had taken the best possible decision and they'd had it anticipated by Jhin. Now, they would simply wait on the road for a carriage to pass. Dressed as simple merchants biding their time, they waited. They were willing to wait forever, if necessary.
Forever turned out to be several hours. Zed and Shen remained at the same level of alertness, their training allowing them to remain idle for a great deal of time, but able to move at a moments notice. The carriage came over, its horses quietly clopping as they approached the pass. Shen and Zed looked into the carriage, waiting, expecting the same of what they had been seeing for the last hundred carriages that had passed them before until they saw the face of Khada Jhin. He met their eyes, and was in brief shock as both of them saw each other face to face for the first time since his imprisonment. Zed immediately dove into the carriage.
"Zed no!" Shen raised his hand, before channeling an ancient spell he had learnt, a pinnacle of his training.
Zed burst through the carriage door, twin blades on his arm ready to exact swift vengeance. He saw nothing but the twisting cogs of a lotus trap. He braced, ready for the end as the explosion sounded off, deafening and blinding him. As he opened his eyes, Shen was next to him, palms together and eyes squinted in intense concentration. Around him, there was a large magical barrier shimmered, purple and translucent. Shen collapsed to the ground, and the barrier dissipated.
Zed moved towards his rival, without any ill will, and knelt down. For a while, everything was forgotten. Zed forgot everything about Khada Jhin, forgot about his greed, his hatred to master Kusho, his rage at the murders. Zed knelt down to Shen.
"Brother. Please get up." Zed said, a hint of a plea in his voice. "Please."
He heard a laugh from far away, and looked to see Jhin, a horrific mask on his face, and a glowing pistol on his side. He'd already made it to the other side of the pass, a large bridge and a steep drop below.
"A shame. My performance will have to be only for you."
Zed rose, staring at Jhin, and replied. "You will pay." He had said it without emotion, as if it was a simple statement.
"Darling. You are only a puppet. It is only by the will of me, that you still dance." Jhin's grotesque face curled into a leer.
He fired four bullets at Zed, which he dodged easily due to the incredible distance.
Jhin knew this, and simply smiled. "When they find you, they will cry. Your arrogance has led to the death of your master, and now it will lead to the death of your brother. Soon, it will lead to the end of you."
Zed made to chase, but Jhin simply cut the ropes holding the bridge. For now, Jhin would be able to get away.
Zed turned back to Shen, who groaned. Alive. He hurried to him, and gently helped him up. Shen made to get up, but collapsed. He was out cold, and he wouldn't be awake very soon.
Zed stood up, eyes burning with resolve. He knew what he had to do.
Kashuri was beautiful at that time of the year, blossoms gently being buoyed by the wind as they flowed through the city streets. Zed found himself back in Kashuri, for the first time in years.
It'd been quite easy to enter Kashuri; the guards had simply let him in without any complaint. He found it quite strange, but he wasn't about to complain.
He had not entered the city since he was a teenager, under Master Kusho. He and Shen had explored the city together, talking animatedly as Master Kusho followed close behind. They had taken a day off from their intense training as Ninjas, and a visit to the capital city of Kashuri was a great way to see what they would grow up to protect. Kusho was proud of his students, though he would never show it. Now, back, Zed realized that not much of Kashuri had changed since he'd left. The places were newer, there were more people, but Kashuri still carried the same feeling.
Zed figured that he had to blend in, so he darted into a street corner, and came out dressed again as a merchant. Yet, he still didn't quite fit in. People were wearing strange red garb, clad in intricate masks and carrying swords. He thought that was just a theme of the place he had entered, until he realized that everyone was clad in armor, or beautiful crimson robes.
Zed sighed. Jhin had gone one step ahead again. He had entered Kashuri during the most important festival of the year. The Festival of Fire. It didn't matter much. He had come to Kashuri alone, but he would not stop Jhin alone. Coming to Kashuri had reminded him of something important, something that Jhin thought Zed would never do.
Jhin surveyed the area, looking for the performance. Akali and Kennen would be there, providing a quiet vigil over Kashuri. They would not be vigilant; the festival of fire was a time when everyone laid down their arms, to celebrate in the beauty of the blood moon. If Zed even dared to show up, he would watch as the Blood Moon performance truly lived up to its name. Without Shen, Zed only had his shadows. His pride would never allow him to ask Akali or Kennen for help, his pride, his lust for power was too strong, and it would ultimately destroy him. Jhin smiled. They would be beautiful. This would be perfection. Shen would still be unable to come, but Zed, Zed would be a good stand-in for his Master. He just had to wait for them to come all at the right time…
Shen limped out of the residence in the market, his body bruised and aching. He had woken up only minutes before, and he already knew where he had to go. Zed was in Kashuri, he had gone alone to stop Jhin. He burst open the bar door, to see Gragas dutifully cleaning a glass. The tavern was empty, but it was already cleaned. Gragas looked up in surprise, and was about to speak before Shen interrupted.
"I need the fastest way to Kashuri."
Akali had her blades pressed against Zed's throat, as Kennen held a shuriken in his furry hand, crackling with electricity.
"Give me one good reason. Please." Akali said, viciously as she raised her blade in preparation of a killing blow.
"Th-th-the Golden Demon is here." Zed murmured, before suddenly, he completely disappeared. He appeared behind them, before he took his wrist blades, and dropped them to the ground.
"And If I tried, you'd both be dead. I need your help." Zed said, as sincerely as he could.
Kennen lowered his arm, and the electricity faded. "These are no empty words. I sense an evil presence here."
Zed nodded, thankful for Kennens understanding. "Zed tells me that the both of you are part of the Triumvirate, which makes you the best Ninjas in Ionia."
Akali finally lowered her blades, and asked Zed. "You would be correct. But do not forget that you are a marked man."
Zed turned to Akali. "I care not for your petty threats. Shen and I have both been working together. You two already know this, yet you still remain distrustful."
Akalis' face turned to one of shock and concern. "Shen? Where is he? Is he all right?"
"He is recovering. Jhin attacked us at Jyom Pass. This is no time for talk. We need to plan."
Kennen spoke again. "What do you need us to do?"
Zed suddenly split into a wry grin. "Ninjas are great at hiding right? So hide. But make sure he can see you. This is my plan…"
It was nearly time. Jhin prepared his rifle, his scope aimed at the blood moon performance. Puppets, dancing on their strings. Oh, the excitement! The anticipation burned his lungs and his heart. He would make them dance, he would make them sing, and then he would make them beautiful. First, he would deal with the Kinkou, Akali and Kennen. He looked around, his scope peering for hiding spots. He found them, attempting to hide in plain sight, dressed in blood moon garb as well. It would not help them. They would be captive to his beautiful performance, his flourish, and his art. They were looking around the crowd, searching for anyone out of the ordinary.
But something was wrong. There were less people in the streets. No matter, the performance had to go on. Zed would also be in the area, in the shadow, somewhere. It didn't matter. Jhin was hidden too well; he would never be found where he was. Hidden in plain sight, dressed as everyone else. He readied, staring at the performance. The two actors were dancing, weaving in and out in a mock battle. It was a simple matter to duck away, into a dark corner, ready to fire. Zed would believe he was in the crowd, as how he normally conducted his performances, but every act requires spontaneity. There was a spotlight shining on the actors, making sure that the actors were properly illuminated.
As he raised his rifle, out of the corner of his eye Akali seemed to nod. The people in the crowd suddenly disappeared, as if hit by a shroud. Akali smiled as she held one of the shroud of twilight bombs in her hands. Kennen turned into pure lightning and turned into a blinding white light that made Jhin blind. When he opened his eyes, every other person was gone.
No. Nononono.
"The Golden Demon, beaten by a trick so simple that he'd never imagine the Master of Shadows would attempt it." Someone mentioned, as Akali turned the spotlight on Jhin, blinding him again.
"Hiding in the light." From the spotlight, Zed shimmered into being, clad in pure white armor, save for his crimson mask. He had used the light to shroud himself. Jhin had been so committed to Zed's belief in the shadow; he never believed Zed would ever hide himself in the light.
Jhin began to run, as Zed, Akali and Kennen gave chase.
Shen had been running around the streets of Kashuri, looking for the performance grounds, before finding them empty, save for the Golden Demon running from Akali, Zed and Kennen. Shen immediately gave chase.
The chase led them through Kashuri, through buildings, homes and people, until it came to a deadly climax right back at the performance grounds.
Kennen turned into lightning, rocketing ahead of everyone, only to walk straight into a lotus trap. His speed allowed him to escape almost unscathed, but the trap cut into the yordles legs, cutting them and bringing the tempest to the end of his chase.
One.
Akali ran forward, headstrong and confident in her abilities, preparing to dash in front of Jhin. She didn't expect him to stop, and fire a deadly flourish from his rifle, straight at her chest. She braced for the end, but Shen dashed in front of her, his spirit blade drawn and pointed outwards.
"Stay here and take care of Kennen! We will handle him!" Shen yelled, before giving chase.
Two.
Jhin began to run at full speed, his dancers legs allowing him to almost float above the floor, but he was beginning to tire. The end was coming, but it would be beautiful.
Shen ran level with Zed, as they gave chase, brothers once more. Zed made no reaction to Shen, as if he'd always expected to see Shen with him in the final chase, where they last were brothers. No doubt Jhin had planned for them to die here.
Jhin fired his third bullet, a magically powered one straight at Shen. Zed moved to block, but Shen had already drawn his sword to block the bullet. He was too late, and the bullet ricocheted into Shens thigh, knocking him to the floor.
Three.
Zed threw a shadow to the roof of a building, before appearing on it. He began to run across it, giving chase to Jhin from the roof. Jhin tossed a dancing grenade that Zed dodged with another shadow. Zed found his opportunity, and leapt from the roof, wrist-blade extended.
Shen watched as Zed jumped, and saw Jhin fire his final bullet.
"ZED!"
Four.
Shen held Zed's crimson mask in his hand, as Akali approached, holding a sheepishly contented Kennen in her arms.
The Golden Demon, Khada Jhin, lay dead in front of them. His throat slit, his blood oozing across the floor as he spread-eagled himself. In death, he looked like an ordinary human being.
Akali set Kennen down on the ground, as they both stared at Shen, as he knelt, holding Zed's mask in his hands.
"Father was always proud of you. Always. Be at peace, my brother." Shen said, as the Eye of Twilight wavered, and a single tear dropped to the floor.
In his grief, he never saw the shadow behind him move.
"So, Zed is alive?" Kenshi asked.
"Well, that's another story." Gragas smiled. " But that was the day the Golden Demon was finally put down for good. So, what are the other legends you want to hear, it's still early after all."
Kenshi grinned. "Well…"
(A/N : God I have no idea if this is good or bad. Someone please tell me. And if you have an idea for the next one, gimme a PM. For the guys coming from demons and wolves, don't worry, still working on that. It's just taking a bit longer cause I'm quite busy. This was just a simple doodle I wrote in camp.)
