Chapter 2: Between War and Murder
Riven took refuge in a canyon and set up her camp. The canyons were a familiar, home-like sight for her, as they sheltered her for many nights after she had exiled herself from the nation she once called home. The canyons of Ionia carried a sense of home and safety for her. It was the place that she first found herself dwelling, and hiding from Noxus Companies. The grey, granite walls contrasted the dark green foliage beautifully. She would use the dry moss running along the rock faces to fuel her fires to keep her warm throughout the night.
As her fire burned a orange-red colour her eyes light up as a beautiful, bright crimson. She lied back onto her fluffy sleeping bag and stared into the starry night sky. As it was a more rural area, the sky was dotted with fascinating, bright lights. Things like this made her question why Noxus ever wanted to invade this place in the first place.
"Because we were strong" A voice broke out that she knew all too well. "We were strong, but you weren't strong enough" Riven sat up to see herself, no, more like a shadow of herself standing in front of her, with her arms crossed, and a smirk on her face.
I don't care for your opinion, Riven thought back to herself. Noxus tried to kill me. It did not care for true strength. Just death.
"You left your country. The loved you. You represented the strength of Noxus"
False strength.
"Your right, You didn't have the strength Noxus thought you had. You lied to them"
Thats not how I meant it and you knew it.
"You were weak Riven. You were weak and they knew it"
I am not weak.
"Riven you are weak. That's why they… took care of you"
The world began to spin and blur into battle replayed in Riven's head. It was in a Ionian Village, in a dip in the ground. There was blood splattered along her face as Riven was clashing swords with a Ionian warrior. It was not her own
"You're all so weak! Kill every last one of them! Let none Survive!" Past Riven yelled as she slashed deeply through the Ionian warrior's chest, killing him instantly
"Atakku!" A voice shouted out from behind. Riven looked up to see a rain of arrows come flying down from the air. Past Riven used her giant blade to shield herself from the horde of arrows.
"Is that all? I could take on all of you!" Just as Riven yelled that tens of Ionians rushed down from the surrounding hill base. She had realized how perfect this place was for an ambush. She pointed her blade at one of the Noxian soldiers. "You! Go call for backup"
"Right away commander!" The soldier said as he ran off. Riven raised her blade to protect herself from a strike from another Ionian warrior.
"You are worthless!" she yelled as she unarmed him and slashed down his chest. The warriors helmet fell off as he fell Riven saw that he could be no older than 17. "At least this country is not prideless", she spat. Riven looked up to see the battle that was occurring. There was Noxian and Ionian bodies riddling the ground, but mostly Ionians. "Weak", Riven muttered.
The battle had gone on for a few more minutes, with Riven slaying about 8 more warriors with ease. But they were still outnumbered 25 to 1. "Where the hell is that backup?" Riven yelled. She had just undug her blade out of another Ionians chest, as she heard a loud crack. She looked up too see black dots being launched into the fray, from all around. The dots soon exploded into a green mist which began to fall all over the battle.
"Zaunite Poison! Run!" A Noxian yelled. Screams had began to erupt from all over, Ionian or Noxian, it did not matter. The Poison did not discriminate. Bodies began to fall everywhere, skin sizzling, and turning red, anyone who was touched eventually fell. As they fell they gave out a blood curtailing scream. Riven Took in a deep breath and ran, faster than she had ever before. But not fast enough. The poison burned her left arm, and she collapsed to the ground, supposedly, to never get up again.
When she awoke, it was night, and her left arm was red and burnt, badly, along with her chest. Her skin looks like it had melted off, and had many holes in it. She painfully stood up and looked around. All of the Ionians had been eradicated, along with her noxian comrades. Their bodies were unrecognizable. As she walked, dragging her sword with her right hand as her left was limp, dangling from her body. It was a horrific scene. We mean nothing… She thought. We are just pawns on the battlefield. At the will of Noxus.
They don't care for us. Riven raised her sword.
They just want to win. She slammed her sword down sideways against a rock. The sword bounced off.
They just want death. Again.
We don't matter. Again.
They don't care for us. Again.
They Lied. Riven brought her sword down once more. This time it shattered into 5 large pieces, and many small ones. As the pieces flew into the air and sparkled in the moonlight, she came to a realization. She fell to her knees and became a mixed drink of emotions. One part betrayed and two parts wrong. She had realized what the false sense of strength had made her. She looked down, and threw up; half from the death and pain, and half from the lies. She was on all fours now. I'm weak.
"I'm weak", The shadow Riven said in a mocking voice. "You said it yourself" The world began to spin and dissolve again as it turned back into the present day.
I'm not! Riven thought back aggressively. I'm not! I'm not! I'm not! I'm not! Riven covered her ears with her hands uselessly.
"You can't stop me. I'm you. The real you. The strong you"
"The real me died in that attack! You're not me!" Riven yelled out loud. Her voice echoed through the silent valley. Riven laid down unto her sleeping bag, and curled up into a ball. She began to weep. Riven cried herself to sleep like she has many times before.