Hello everyone. I kind of forgot to check it for mistakes and grammar errors, so my apologies. I'm in a hurry right now (the moment of publishing) and I'll correct them (if any) after a weekend. Enjoy.
Chapter II - Freedom
"Lies…" Renekton mumbled half asleep to himself. He's been surrounded by pitch black darkness and manipulative influence of Xerath for who knows how long. Not even sleep could bring him peace, because every time he tried, Xerath would disturb him, efficiently interrupting his slumber. Eventually he would pass out, but if not Xerath, then horrible nightmares would disrupt the only moment he thought could bring him rest.
"You're stuck here forever…" Xerath kept repeating, over and over, along with other threats and lies. They both had no idea how long has passed, but unlike Renekton, Xerath didn't care. His eternal form lacked desire to sleep, he knew he couldn't be stuck there forever.
At first Renekton thought it wouldn't be a problem to endure it. The tomb was infused with ancient magic which prevents everything and everyone inside from aging and having needs like eating, though sleep was still necessary. But he was wrong, it was much worse than he had imagined. Xerath was constantly torturing Renekton mentally, breaking his will and sanity piece by piece. And the worst thing is, it was working. Renekton was just sitting with blank expression on his face, with hollow eyes looking down which couldn't even see the ground.
"Maybe he's right? Maybe Nasus won't come…?" Renekton thought. These intrusive thoughts were flooding his mind, slowly severing any bonds he had with Nasus. Xerath wanted to create a monster, a soldier, which would cause destruction and chaos, and then he would be the one to slay him, becoming a hero of new world. And ultimately he managed to do that…
Almost.
Renekton suddenly woke up with a loud gasp from something that felt like neverending nightmare. He instantly sat up and started breathing heavily. It took him a moment to realise that he could see. When he finally did, confused, he looked around. It was still dark, but something was illuminating the room with faint blue light. With trembling legs, Renekton slowly stood up. Was he dreaming? If yes, then it was his first peaceful dream in a while. But then he looked behind him and froze. What he saw was something he thought he would never see again. He couldn't hold tears of joy, it was finally over. There were doors of the tomb right in front of him, opened, empty inside.
"Nasus!? Are you there!?" he shouted cheerfully, sure it must have been him. But he didn't receive answer. He shouted again, no response. Why, he wondered. Was he hidden somewhere, waiting for the best moment to reveal himself? No, he wouldn't do that. He would immediately hug him and cry in his arms for not being quicker.
Then he thought about it, could it be that Nasus wasn't involved in it? That his freedom was associated with something else. But if not him, then who? He investigated the area. There was a lot of debris scattered around, dried pool of water, and sand, but also something that looked like a shrine of some sort right beside the doors. Renekton slowly came closer to it and kneeled down. There was a lot of melted wax from candles, letters with words too faded to read, and a little bit more to the left, covered by dust and debris, his weapon.
"Long time no see…" he murmured as he yanked the blade. To his surprise it wasn't very rusty, sand and salt must have protected it from corroding, but still needed some treating before it could be used again. Renekton looked around for a bit, but couldn't find anything else, especially not Nasus. Disappointed, yet excited, he turned towards the source of light. A small gap in a wall near a ceiling. After short inspection he plunged his weapon into the wall and used it as a ledge on which he could stand. Five minutes of moving stones and sand out of his way and the gap was now big enough to fit. Renekton pulled himself up, and stayed like that for a bit. It was the first time in thousands of years when he saw the full moon. When he finally snapped out of it, he moved his body weight on the other side, pulled his weapon again, and then slided down on sand on the other side. When he looked around he couldn't hide shock on his face. He expected that the capital would be destroyed, but there was literally nothing left, not even ruins. Everything was hidden beneath the tomb of sands. It took him a moment to accept Shurima's fate, but deep inside he knew he didn't really care. He joined the army just because he could be closer to Nasus, his only true friend. Then again, he looked around. Not a single living soul spotted. Frustrated, he sat down and sighed.
"How come I'm free when nobody's even here?" Renekton asked himself under his breath. It was indeed peculiar. There must be some explanation, ancient magic doesn't just expire after some time, he thought. He stood up and shook his head. No matter what happened, he couldn't stay there. He was alone there, and magic was no longer protecting him. He had to move or he would die there.
But his journey was rougher than he anticipated. He'd been walking and walking for many days now, yet he hasn't met anyone or stumbled upon any settlement. Renekton was starving, his mouth felt drier than Shurima itself, and didn't even have anything to protect himself from deadly desert sun. The only thing that keeping him alive was desire, desire to find out what the world is right now, after his imprisonment was over. And not only that. He wanted to find Nasus, and once he finds him, he will punch him real good in his face, then insult him, and then hug him. And then, after some time, he found something. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination playing tricks on his mind, but he swore he saw three figures travelling on camels. Overwhelmed by joy he rushed towards them, despite his fatigue. When he was approximately three hundred feet away from them, he shouted to draw their attention. From that distance he couldn't see them clearly, especially because there was the sun right behind them, blinding his vision. But those figures could see him clearly, and what they saw was a huge reptilian humanoid with menacing looking weapon on his back, running in their direction. Then, Renekton heard a scream. And then he saw them running away on the backs of their camels.
"W-Wait! I'm not hostile!" he shouted, but to no avail. Renekton couldn't keep running, he had no chance of catching up to them. Exhausted, he collapsed on his butt and cursed loudly. But then something rolled down the dune they were walking on, right to Renekton's feet. It was a backpack. Not thinking twice, he started rummaging through the stuff inside. He couldn't believe his luck when he found big and full waterskin and two rations of food. Not only that, there was a huge rag that could make a great cape for him. Not only would it protect him from sun, but also others from seeing how he looks like. He quickly downed whole waterskin, ate both rations, and then wrapped himself in a rag. It was a sign for him he wasn't supposed to give up, at least not yet. He moved forward, towards the direction these people were going. If someone was heading there, then there must be life.
But to his dismay he hasn't found anyone for another two weeks. His cover against sun and slow pace allowed him to preserve some energy, but he felt both his will and stamina deplete every day, eventually being on the verge of dying. It was dark, Renekton thought it was the last night of his life, he didn't have any more energy. He collapsed, accepting his fate. To think he would die just after escaping his eternal prison, isolated, alone. But just as he wanted to close his eyes and go to sleep, he heard a faint noise. It sounded like someone walking on grains of sand. Renekton couldn't raise his head anymore, but it became louder and louder. Footsteps, perhaps?
He felt presence right beside him. Those were footsteps in the end, and that person was standing right above him. Renekton managed to take a glimpse at them. All he saw were dark, probably brown trousers and weird boots. Were they even boots, he thought. He couldn't just lay there without giving any kind of sign. He was dying, he needed urgent help. With the rest of the power he had, he managed to stand on his knee and reached his hand forward. He grabbed something, and then looked through a small gap in the rag. For a second he thought he was hallucinating, because he saw Nasus' face. Even if it was just a hallucination, he was glad he could see him. He smiled and then released his grip and fell down on his face once again, but this time he lost his consciousness.
"Bartley!" Nasus yelled as he rushed into the inn.
"For fuck sake, Nasus! You're gonna wake everyo-" angered bartender replied, but then he noticed terrified expression on his face and something, or rather someone, on his back.
"He's unconscious and probably dehydrated, I need help." Nasus added. Bartley just nodded after realising how serious the situation was. He led him upstairs and opened one of the furthest rooms.
"Lay him there, I'll go for first aid kit and some medicine." Bartley said and rushed down the hall. Nasus nodded and then quickly, but gently, placed him on his back. That's when he realised he had some kind of backpack on his back.
"Fuck, I'm so dumb!" Nasus panicked and raised him to the sitting position. He still wasn't sobered up, so details like that were easily missed. He carefully unwrapped whatever was concealed beneath this thick layer of rags, and was shocked when he recognised Renekton's reversed Bat'leth. Was it stolen? He shook his head, he left it there right in the open, anyone could have found it and just take it, he was no thief. Nasus deftly removed it from his back and laid down beside his bed.
"The last time I saw it, it wasn't so rusted…" Nasus murmured quietly and sighed. No surprise, he thought. Last time he was there was a thousand years ago? Maybe even more.
"I've got everything. Could you leave us Nasus? He might be injured and I don't want him to get infected." Bartley said when he returned with huge black bag and white mask on his mouth. Nasus chuckled and nodded.
"Sure, do your stuff. I'll wait outside." he said and left the room, closing the door behind him. Nasus hoped Bartley could save him. He was a military medic in the past, at least that's what Bartley told him one day. It was his specialty to save people from dying in dirty, unsterile places with just some bandages, scalpels and cheap, artificial potions, working mostly as a placebo rather than actually healing them. Nasus returned to the ground floor and sat at the table. He lay his head and wondered who this person even is. But before he realised, his eyelids became so heavy. He fought the need to sleep for a moment, but finally closed his eyes and fell into deep, peaceful sleep.
When Nasus returned to consciousness, he couldn't recognise where he was. He remembered laying on the table, but then everything went dark. He slowly sat up and rubbed his temple, hangover was still something inevitable despite his divine body. When he looked around he noticed he was in a room very similar to the one he was in the previous day but mirrored. Did Bartley move him to one of his rooms? Probably, he thought. Nobody wants to see a drunk canine snoring at the table when one wakes up. He sat on the edge and sighed.
"Well, my kidneys aren't gone…" Nasus said jokingly to himself. After a moment he slowly stood up and started straightening a little bit, followed up by some basic, morning exercise. Just as he reached for the handle, Bartley opened the door and greeted Nasus with a tray full of food.
"I thought you were still asleep. Good morning." bartender said and placed the tray on a small table beside the bed.
"Oh Bartley, you didn't have to." Nasus replied grateful. Bartley just smiled and shook his head.
"Don't worry about it. You're the only person here that actually stops by the counter just to chat with me. Consider it an act of gratitude." he replied and coughed.
"Something's wrong?" Nasus asked when he noticed traces of worry on his face.
"Well, not really. Our yesterday's guest is alright, but I wasn't expecting him to look...like that." Bartley replied concerned. Nasus tilted his head perplexed.
"What do you mean? Was he deformed of some sort?" he asked.
"Oh, no, nothing like that. He's a vastaya, that's all. I was just expecting a human." he clarified.
"Vastaya, huh?" Nasus repeated after him, "Have you talked to him yet?"
"No, I mean, yes, but he's rather quiet. He's probably shocked and confused. I gave him some more time to rest. He needs it." Bartley replied.
"That's for sure. Who knows for how long he's been out there." Nasus said worried. Bartley smirked when he saw Nasus' face. "What's so funny?" he asked.
"I didn't know that side of yours. You barely know him and you're already concerned about his health. That's admirable." he said and pat him on a shoulder. "Anyway, eat up and then come down. You'll carry a breakfast to our guest. Maybe he'll be more open to another vasta- I'm sorry, ascended being." he added and winked at him. Nasus raised his brow and folded his hands.
"I heard sarcasm in that sentence." he said half offended.
"Pff, nonsense." Bartley replied and closed the door behind him. Nasus rolled his eyes and chuckled. The breakfast wasn't bad, but after eating almost the same thing for many months, which was scrambled eggs with a glass full of water, even the best spices couldn't get rid of dullness of this meal. Though this time he was glad the water, especially after yesterday. He took the tray and left his room. No wonder his room looked so familiar, it was in front of the room where he carried that person. He looked throughout the hall to make sure nobody was nearby, and then placed his ear against the door. No matter how hard he tried to focus, he couldn't hear anything beside some slow movement and deep, low breaths. He really was tired, he thought.
When Nasus was walking down the stairs, he noticed there was almost nobody in. He noticed a couple in the corner, the same couple that arrived three days ago. He overheard they wanted to stay for four days, so it's probably the last time he sees them. Apart from them, it was only Bartley in there.
"How was the food?" he asked while cleaning a cup with a white rag.
"As usual. Good, but bland." Nasus replied.
"You know, food can't really be both good and bland, one of them usually excludes the other." Bartley said confused. Nasus only smiled and placed the tray on the counter.
"Delicious. Better?" he asked. Bartley couldn't hide his smile.
"Much better." he said and took the tray. "As you can see I don't really have a lot to do for now, so how about you help me prepare some food?" Bartley asked him, and since he also didn't have a lot to do, he agreed. After some time they have prepared ingredients for today's orders, and at the same time one breakfast, which Nasus carried up to the lucky survivor.
As he was right at the door, he knocked and said "Good morning. We've made breakfast for you. Can I come in?" Nasus said loud enough to be heard, or at least he thought he did, but nobody replied. He repeated the question, and this time he heard quiet "Uh-huh."
He slowly pushed the handle and opened the door, not really sure what to expect in a moment. He wanted to ask him so many questions, and at the same time give some space. When he entered, he noticed the rag was hung on a hanger stand. His eyes moved towards a bed. Nasus smiled when he noticed he was completely covered by warm, white sheets.
"I bet you're hungry. We've prepared a lot of scrambled eggs with some vegetables, sausage, and a big glass of water." he said and placed the tray on a table. Nasus noticed a slow movement under a quilt. He was probably struggling to leave the bed, relatable, he thought.
"Just...five more minutes…" the man replied in a low, tired voice. Wow, Nasus thought. His voice was much lower than he initially thought, but maybe it was because he was still sleepy.
"I understand you need some time fully rest, but eggs get cold very fast, and it'll quicken replenishment of your strength." he suggested. For a moment Nasus thought he went back to sleep, so he took a step backwards to leave, but then he replied.
"Alright, I'm getting up…" he said and started slowly, but steadily, rising from his bed. When he was sitting properly he uncovered his upper half of the body with one lazy move of his hand. He slowly turned his half-asleep eyes towards Nasus, just to open them widely in shock and disbelief. Nasus was equally surprised. He covered his mouth and tears started gathering in his eyes.
"Re...Rene...Renekton…?" Nasus managed to mumble while holding down his tears. There was no mistaking it, it was definitely Renekton.
"...Nasus?" he asked back. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't dreaming, but he was still standing right in front of him. And then Nasus rushed to him and embraced him in a deep hug. At this point he couldn't hold it anymore, he burst into tears while holding Renekton as close to him as possible. He, similarly, wrapped his arms around Nasus and placed his head on his shoulder. His eyes became wet from tears as well. He closed them, forcing tears to fall down his cheeks.
"I missed you so much…" Renekton said and pulled Nasus closer. He did it, he found Nasus. He didn't care Nasus wasn't the one to free him, he wasn't alone anymore, and that was all that mattered to him.
I predict no delays next week, so see you next Sunday guys and gals.
