Mending Broken Wings Ch. 2

I was awakened the next morning with the smell of tea wafting through the air. As if in a cartoon, my head perked up, following the scent until I arrived at the door. Master Yi was making tea, and had opened the door to ensure the steam would filter from the house properly. Of course, that was my theory. If asked, he'd say something like "I keep my doors open so that the weary traveler may stop in for tea if they like."

Slipping inside, he stopped pouring to look at me confused. "I wasn't aware you'd awoken Riven. I've been up for a while now and I didn't even hear you come out."

I nervously scratched the back of my unkempt ivory hair. I wasn't sure if I should rat out Ashira or not. It would certainly serve him right, but on the other hand...I couldn't help but feel that I'd have done something similar to him had the positions been switched. "I...erm...slept outside."

"Why would you do that?"

"I'm...shy?" I suggested, trying to come up with a suitable excuse. He seemed to buy it for the most part, a sigh of relief escaping him.

"Good. I was concerned for a moment that Ashira had bullied you out of the futon. Would you like to gather some more firewood for the stove? I may as well start another pot of tea. With four now, I feel that we will go through it much faster than before."

Kneeling at the table, I watched him as a pang of guilt hit my stomach. "Sorry Yi, I know that you are sacrificing a lot by having me stay here."

"Hardly, you're sacrificing a lot more than I am. Gaining more too I suppose." He chuckled.

I hadn't even been here a day and already he was talking in riddles. "So...where do I start anyway? Are you going to take me through the same trials as Kal when he was here?"

"Not at all." He grinned, sitting across the way from me. "Your redemption will be a much different experience, and it will not nearly travel as quickly as his did. Your series of trials will not be done through the mind, but through the heart."

Just as I went to question him further, Ashira exited the room with a yawn, stretching as he sat across from me. "Good morning Master. Dog." He nodded to each of us in kind, causing me to give him a glare.

"I am not a dog!" I argued but he just smirked at me.

"Says the one who slept on the porch all night." Just as the two of us began to bicker, Yi smacked both of us over the heads causing us to fall silent.

"Children, please. The tea becomes far too bitter from your negativity. If only you spent more time in your training instead of arguing like the sun and moon."

Ashira crossed his arms over his chest. "Master, it has only been a day. The only training we've done is to chop firewood. Firewood from a tree that I felled with my bare hands." He added the last sentence with a swell of pride in his chest before a gleam in his eyes signaled that he'd just recalled something. "How is our feathered friend?" He asked finally.

Yi quietly stood, walking to the cage to examine it. "It seems to have awoken finally. It's bandage is still there luckily. We will have to monitor it to ensure that it heals correctly. The biggest worry is having to rebreak the bone in order to ensure it sets properly."

It was obvious this was not the answer Ashira was hoping for. "Fine." He replied flatly, standing up from his tea still untouched. "What's the first bit for training?"

"Eager to get started?" Yi asked with a grin. "Very well. Your first task is to go into the village. A friend of mine has a leaky roof that she will need repaired."

"What is this some Wuju mumbo jumbo?" Ashira groaned causing me to snicker under my breath. "What does this have to do with anything?"

Yi glared at him, not enjoying the point that rested on the young monk's questions. "Do you truly wish to discuss that with another present? Somehow, I doubt it. You came to me Ashira, do not be so foolish as to believe that my hospitality has no bounds."

"Fine." He sighed. "Give me the stupid address so I can get it done."

Yi shook his head. "First things first, take a bath. You aboslutely reek. Second, you are to wait for Riven. She will be accompanying you on this task."

"M-master?" I asked incredulously. "But I thought I would start on my trials today."

The swordsman gently patted my head. "The first of many. Do not worry, Wukong will accompany you both to offer his aid." As if summoned by his name, the head of the monkey king appeared in the window.

"What was that?" He asked.

"You're helping them with their first task today." Yi repeated causing him to groan. "Do not complain, it is unbecoming of your 'royalty', you know?"

Ashira didn't seem too cheerful about the prospect of bringing him along but instead he simply turned to me. "Finish your tea, we leave in ten minutes." And with that he vanished into the baths, leaving me along with Yi and Wukong.

"Erm...master?" My sienna eyes fell to my cup. "Please forgive my rudeness, but what is the purpose of this? I don't understand. How is this supposed to help me redeem myself?"

My mentor simply rested his hands on my shoulders. "You will learn soon enough Riven. For now, simply take in the deeds you perform. And listen to what the woman has to say, I'm sure she'll have wonderful advice for you."

I nodded in understanding. When at last Ashira was ready to leave, Yi pressed the paper into my hand and nodded for me to go with the monk. At last, my first task was to begin. As Wukong followed along behind us, he seemed giddy at the prospect, a complete 180 from his original mood. "So…" Ashira spoke up. "Who is this woman we're helping?"

I shook my head. "I'm not sure, Master Yi didn't say. He only gave us an address. Do you recognize it?" Before I could finish formulating my question however, Ashira had snatched it from my grasp, staring harshly at the scribbles on the paper.

"It's the Presidium." He commented to himself with a groan before handing the paper back to me. "Of course it's the freaking Presidium. It can never be simple with him, he's always like this!"

Wukong began to howl with laughter. Clearly he was aware of the situation the entire time, and was just waiting for us to discover it on our own. "Wait, what's the Presidium?" I asked confused.

"It's the home of the most influential woman in all of Ionia." Ashira explained. Noting my puzzled expression he sighed. "The woman whose roof we're repairing is Duchess Karma. Otherwise known as the woman who nearly single-handedly decimated your invasion."

"Oh." I replied. I wasn't going to get into this with him. It wasn't worth it. The only thing I could hope for is that he wouldn't mention it in front of Karma either. The last thing I wanted was to be branded as a traitor by my new home. Especially after I'd come so far before.

Looking towards Ashira, I could see that he too was nervous, almost more so than I was. Master Yi said that he was running from his past too. I couldn't help but wonder what he'd done that made him fear Karma so greatly.


Yasuo steeled himself as his clansmen began to circle around him. This was his greatest nightmare come true. His master was dead, and worse, the other students all believed it was he who had committed the deed. As one stepped forward, his grip tightened on his blade. "Stay back!" He warned.

"You monster, he was nothing but kind to you! He favored you and you slaughtered him like an animal." The man hissed drawing his own sword.

"No, I didn't!" Yasuo argued, preparing himself for a fight. "I went to fight against the invaders, there is no crime in that! My blade could have turned the tide, I know it! It is not my fault!"

But they would not listen. Dashing forward, a man who was once his brother-in-arms swung his sword in a diagonal arc, aiming to cut down the swordsman of the winds. Yasuo hated that he had to do this, but he had no intention of dying. With a blur, he'd passed the man's sloppy technique, just as he was split in two along the waist.

That was how the battle started at least. They continued to come after him; as he ran they pursued him through the rooftops and alleyways, but whenever they would get close, all it would take was one quick movement and another corpse would begin to pour its blood on the streets of Ionia.

"Please," Yasuo begged, "let this end! You must believe me, I loved our master. I'd never have killed him." But he knew in his heart they would not listen, and so he slew them. From that point on there would be no hesitation as he cut through his comrades whenever they'd managed to track him down, not until he got to him. His very own brother.

The two stared one another down for the longest time, both with blades in hand and yet no words shared. "Yasuo, this is the end." He had finally spoken as they began to circle one another. "You've run for long enough. Admit your crimes, and prepare to be executed."

"Yone…" he silently whispered, his tears shimmering in the moonlight. "My own brother. How could you think me capable of this? If I'm taken in, the real killer will never be brought to justice. I beg of you, put away your sword and do not do this."

Yone remained silent, instead simply bowing to Yasuo as his code of honor dictated. He would have to fight him, he had no choice. His brother seemed to acknowledge this as well, bowing in return before holding his blade before him.

The battle was over in the blink of an eye. With the slightest breeze, Yasuo stood before his brother, a long slash now revealed in his torso. As Yone's vision blurred and he began to crumple, Yasuo dropped his blade and wrapped his arms around his brother. "Yone, Yone please. Speak to me." Yasuo whimpered, knowing full well this was indeed the end for his brother. "Why do you think I killed him?"

Yone weakly struggled to disentangle himself from his brother's grip. "Because he was ripped apart by a wind technique. Who else could have possibly been guilty for his death?" He hissed, as Yasuo continued to clutch him tightly.

"Brother, forgive me." He pleaded.

Yone's eyes were still full of rage when he grasped Yasuo's shirt tightly, using what little strength he had to lean closer to his ear. "I will not." Yasuo's heart broke in two as his brother then fell limp in his arms.

"Yone…" He whispered softly. "Yone?" His voice began to panic as he shook his brother's lifeless corpse desperately. "Yone, wake up! Please Yone, you must forgive me. Please, all you have to do is say you're forgiven. Just once, that's it. Please." When his brother made no response, Yasuo gently set down the body, tilting his head back to look at the moon as his tears blurred his vision. "Damn it!" He howled at the top of his lungs. "Damn it all to the Nine Hells! I swear to you assassin! Do you hear me?! I will find you and you will die by my blade! I will not rest until your blood has fed the earth!"

The vow made, Yasuo stood, digging a hole to bury the last of his kin. With every shovelful of dirt that was moved, his righteous fury would build removing another piece of his emotion with every second. He'd already murdered many of his clansmen, and now his own brother. He had nothing left to care for any longer save to rid the world of the assassin that was responsible for the collapse of his life.

When at last he placed his brother's sword blade down into the earth to mark his grave, his heart had frozen solid. There would be no mercy or hesitation for the assassin, and Yasuo no longer cared how many people, clansmen or not, he'd have to cut through to find him. His first destination was the League of Legends. There assembled the greatest warriors on the face of the planet and he knew in his soul that that's where he'd find the terrible assassin of the winds.

Lifting his sword, he slid it into the sheath at his waist and turned away from his brother's grave. The past was behind him, and as he set off towards the Institute of War Yasuo never so much as took a glance back.


When at last we arrived at the Presidium, my jaw dropped. The place was enormous, a castle within it's own right. It sat perched on a waterfall where cherry blossoms sprouted all around. It was absolutely breathtaking and I would have become lost in the scenery had Ashira not nudged me with his elbow. "Quit gawking. We have work to do remember?"

I sighed in disappointment, following after the monk as Wukong rushed ahead of the both of us towards the building. "Just once, would it hurt you to let me have a moment's peace?" I asked impatiently as we passed one of the many beautiful trees that had grown over the path.

"Only if that moment's peace keeps me from obtaining my goal." He retorted. "You don't have to stop to smell the flowers you know? It's just as easy to smell them as you walk past." Ugh...this guy was such a party pooper. It felt like he was always in a hurry to go somewhere. Couldn't he ever just appreciate where he was?

"Whatever. Let's just fix the roof okay?" I couldn't help but feel as though my redemption was as far away now as ever. When we finally arrived at the Presidium's great doors, already someone was waiting for us.

The woman had dark skin, and she stood tall and voluptuous. Her eyes denoted an intense pride and on her back she carried the Mantle of Decorum, marking her as one of the most respected presences in all of Ionia. "Welcome friends." She greeted us with a kind smile. "Please do come in. Your journey here must have been a long one. Take a moment before you get to your task, I insist."

Holding the door open, she waited for us to file in, Wukong dashing past her quickly in excitement. Ashira followed after him, but I hesitated for a moment. I wanted to move, I truly did, but my legs wouldn't obey me.

"Is something the matter?" Karma asked, her eyes denoting that she already knew the answer.

"I…" My eyes went from her to Ashira who waited for me inside, arms crossed and an impatient glare. "I…" My heart raced in my chest as I thought of all the things that happened. The young girl who'd managed to wipe out half of my troops, the way that Singed's melters burned through friend and foe alike. All of the hatred for Noxus that burned in the heart of Ionia's people, and the realization that the strongest hatred most likely sat in the woman's heart before me. For my sins, I didn't even deserve to lay eyes on her, much less enter her home. "I have to go."

My mouth felt dry as I turned and ran back down the path through the orchard. The pink petals of the blossoms rained down around me as my wake scattered them. After running for a good two minutes, I fell to my hands and knees. I could taste the saltiness of my own tears as they coated my face. I wiped them with the back of my hand, but it didn't help.

I hated myself so much then, the world had given me a chance to redeem myself, and I was such a coward I fled from it. I felt so foolish for even wanting to try, nothing could allow me to turn back the clock and fix the mistakes I'd made.

Just then I could hear someone coming down the path towards me from the Presidium. Getting up, I quickly ducked behind a tree. I couldn't like Ashira see me like this, he'd never let me live it down. I held my breath tightly, praying the footsteps would fade away, but instead they just stopped on the other side of the tree. He knew I was here, but was just toying with me?

Finally, my body wouldn't let me keep the air in any longer, so I released it all in a sigh, before sniffling. "What do you want Ashira?" I asked, closing my eyes and leaning against the tree. "Come to make fun of me?"

"On the contrary…" the soft voice surprised me as I pressed myself further into the tree. "I am here to see what is the matter." I could hear the duchess walking towards my hiding place.

"Please stop!" I called out, causing the sound of her footprints to halt. "I know you're being nice to me but...you shouldn't be."

"Why on Runeterra not?" She scoffed. "You volunteered to help me. You're sacrificing your time and effort for a selfless reason. If there were more people like you in the world it would be a much better place."

I shook my head. How could she possibly understand. "If there were more people in the world like me, believe me things would be far worse." I whispered. "I know you don't know who I am, but there was a time where you and I were enemies."

Karma rested her back on the other side of the tree, the patience she displayed practically rolling off her body. "Is that so?" She asked curiously. "When was this?" I bit my lip, shutting my eyes tight as I tried to consider what would be best. If I didn't tell her, she'd think I was crazy. But if I did...I wasn't sure what she would do. At the very best, she'd hate me at the worst she'd have me executed as an enemy of Ionia, but either way things would be bad. "Let me guess, you were a member of the Noxian military?"

Now the choice had been removed it seemed. "Yes." I admitted. "A General."

"Why did you leave?"

"I saw...things." I hesitantly explained. My hopes that she wouldn't push forward seemed to hold out as she nodded in understanding.

"Both sides saw quite a bit of blood spilt. I've no doubt that you, like all in that conflict, came out of it a different person than when you went in."

"Not everyone." I answered as bitter memories came to my head of the mad chemist and his companion. They always were monstrous, even before the invasion. And now, one had turned into a literal beast and the other had become scarred to the point of having to cover up parts of his body with bandages.

The feeling of her gentle hand on my own pulled me from those dark retellings of my past. "Listen to me carefully Riven. Who you were and who you are are not the same person. I've met many monsters, vanquished some even. But that isn't you."

I tugged my hand away, pulling it to my chest. "How can you say that? You don't know who I am nor the things I've done."

She fanned herself for a moment before grinning. "Tell me Riven. How are you with a forge?"

"Aren't you listening to me?" I asked. "You don't want me around. I'm a Noxian, worse I'm a Noxian commander."

"Were." She corrected. "You've become something different now. Now are you good with a forge or not?"

I took a deep breath. "Yes. I'm an excellent blacksmith."

"Good. I have farm tools in need of repair. Let your companion fix the roof. I can tell he seems to stress you greatly."

I couldn't fathom why she was being so kind to me. But I simply nodded in understanding and followed behind her as we both trekked back to the Presidium. Opening the door to the small smith on-site she gestured me in. "What should I start on?" I asked, my fingers running over the rusty tools that lay strewn about.

She considered it for a moment before pointing to a hammer. "That one." She instructed, causing me to raise an eyebrow.

"You know...it'd probably be easier to just buy a new hammer." I explained. "One doesn't often reforge a hammer."

The Duchess smirked and shook her head. "No, this hammer has quite a few good memories. My grandfather used that hammer to build the house my parents lived in, and they in turn crafted my first house with it. Whenever I became duchess, I even had the builders use the hammer for the Presidium. But as you can see, the head's become rusted and it's balance is shot."

I lifted the tool. She was right about that. It felt like this hammer was heavier from the handle than the head itself. I'd have to resmith the entire head. "I'll take care of it." I promised before using the bellows to stoke the forge.

"Good to hear." She replied before walking out of the room. "And Riven…" she called for a moment.

"Yes?" I responded, looking back towards her.

Her lips curled into a soft smile. "I'm glad to have you here." And like that she'd vanished, leaving me alone in the forge. I didn't understand. She knew better than anyone the sort of deeds I committed, how could she be so polite. As I pondered it, I felt myself starting to tear up again, so I quickly banished it from my mind. Right now, I had the task at hand to focus on.


As Karma made her way back to the main house of the Presidium she hummed to herself cheerfully. Yi was so kind as to send her people to help her take care of her home. It came as a surprise when he contacted her that morning, but the instant her eyes fell on the two she immediately understood why he'd sent them.

Both of them shared a tragic past, one that kept their souls shackled in depression and self-hatred. Still, she had not expected Riven to crack so easily. "Duchess?" A voice asked her, causing her to look towards Wukong, a serious expression on his face.

"Hello Wukong. It has been a while since I've seen you. Apologies if I didn't acknowledge your presence previously. How have you been?"

"There's no need for formalities." He responded. "What happened with her?"

Karma frowned. While her and the monkey king never truly got into arguments, their personalities clashed greatly when it came down to their core. "I have her repairing my farm tools." She explained. "It was a task she needed more than repairing the roof."

He let out a disappointed groan. "You know my job was to make their task harder right?"

The duchess sighed softly as she looked back at the forge. "Just being here makes her task harder. She's a stranger in a strange land, and yet she feels conflicted. Her home rejects her, this new land rejects her. It is sad that so many Ionians still hold such ill will against the Noxians, or rather that they do so indiscriminately."

"So...what should I do?" He asked, scratching his hairy cheek.

"Focus your efforts on the young man. I could sense turmoil in his soul as well, but I feel that perhaps a gentle hand is not what he needs. And I fear that being annoyingly stubborn is your specialty, not mine."

Wukong let out a gleeful cackle as he quickly ran to the side of the Presidium and easily scaled it. As he swung himself over, his eyes fell on his prey. Creeping ever closer to Arashi, he watched as he would carefully line up the nail before striking it hard with the hammer and reattaching the shingle.

Just as he moved on to the next one, Wukong reached out and using a nearby prybar plucked out the nail. Arashi's eyes went from the now blank hole to the monkey king who wore an impish grin on his face. "Wukong," he began, trying to keep calm, "this is not the time. I'm already doing this stupid roof by myself because Riven couldn't handle herself. Do not push me."

Once he rehammered the nail, he turned again only for the monkey king to once more pry it out. Turning towards him quickly, Arashi lashed out with his leg, but the agile creature quickly leapt out of the way, hooting and jeering. "What's the matter Arashi, is your body starting to be as slow as your head?" He taunted.

Arashi ignored his insults, returning to fixing the leak, but Wukong continued to insult him from out of reach, even turning to slap his buttocks in mocking. The monk glared at him, slowly taking another nail and setting it on the shingle. Clenching his fist he began to charge it with ki before driving it down hard and embedding the nail into the board.

He never broke eye contact with the monkey as he continued to punch the nails in one at a time. Wukong attempted to get close enough to pry one out again, but with the rhythmic thud of his fists hammering the nails into the ornate roof and recalling the tree, he thought it best to do otherwise.

When Arashi had finally completed his task he turned and sat on the roof overlooking the river. "I'm not going to cry you know." He stated, causing Wukong to look at him puzzled. "If you're waiting for me to break down into some snivelling emotional meltdown, I'm not like her. It's not going to happen."

Walking to the monk, Wukong sat beside him, following his gaze to the enchanted waterfall. "Probably not." He agreed. "You're not the sorrowful sort. But I can feel your rage. You keep all that anger bottled up inside of you. What are you so angry at?"

"Shut up monkey. You're ruining the view." He answered. He didn't want to talk about his feelings, least of all with Wukong. He didn't take anything seriously, so how could Arashi expect him to even begin to understand the maelstrom that was brewing in his chest.

"Funny thing about holes." The monkey replied ignoring the grouchy fighter. "When something is complete, we call it whole, but when it's broken we say it has a hole in it. I wonder why that is?"

"It's two words that sound the same. So what?"

Wukong just grinned. "Perhaps, it's the holes inside of us that are part of a bigger whole." With that, the monkey repelled down, landing beside Karma gracefully. "How was that?" He whispered so only she could hear.

"Not bad." She answered. "A little cheesy, but you'll get the hang of it soon. I figured you'd have caused more of a commotion."

Wukong shrugged. "I didn't feel like getting a nail driven into me. Fighting is about sensing one's opponent to use his weaknesses against him. Even if anger is his weakness though, it doesn't stop the fact that even the most reckless fighter can still get at least one punch in."

He looked up towards the man. One thing was for sure, when he wanted to be he could get pretty scary.

To be continued...