Woooo Quater Final Hype! This update brought to you from London.

On a more relevant note, thank you to all the people that have read the story so far, and thanks again to people who liked it enough to follow. The fact that at least a few people are waiting for new chapters really motivates me to write. I did most of this on my tablet so sorry if I missed any typos, I did try to proof read a lot. Anyway enjoy this actually decent length chapter for my kind followers.

Chapter 3 – Past and Present

"Of all the Champions I could be going to Ionia with, it had to be him didn't it?" mumbled Riven to herself as she marched up to the summoner's chambers, "It's not like I hate the guy or anything, but spending several weeks with him is just…"

Riven's thoughts were interrupted as she stepped inside. The Summoners' chambers were vast and beautifully designed. While the Champion's quarters were built to reflect the architecture of their homelands, this was built as a testimony to the authority of the Institute. Large arching beams rose up, convening in the centre of the circular room, where a large statue stood of the first High Summoner: Coirsul. As Riven took in all this, she was interrupted again by a young summoner.

"Um…Miss Riven is it?" asked the Summoner nervously.

"Hmm?" Riven turned around. The summoner was short, shorter than her at least, and had his hood pulled up over his face making it hard to distinguish any features about him. From the lack of decorations on his robe is was clear he was a novice summoner, having not even qualified for a summoning division yet. He was obviously nervous at addressing her, it was probably the first time he had interacted with a Champion outside of the Fields of Justice, and she felt a little sorry for him.

"Sorry yes, do you know where the High Summoner's Chambers are?" Riven asked, trying her best not to intimidate him.

Clearly pleased that she had brought up the topic for him, he nodded and replied enthusiastically "Yes, I was asked to escort you there since this is your first League assignment, please this way." Leading her to one of the teleportation rings that surrounded the edges of the lobby, he began to channel his magic into the runes. "I'm apprentice summoner Joheim by the way, I'm actually a really big fan of yours!" he explained while channelling the teleportation spell. "If I wasn't such a low level I would really like to summon you some time, but I'm having trouble even beating the AI opponents at the moment."

Riven was surprised, she had heard from Lux that she was quite popular with the summoners, but she was usually summoned by the higher tier summoners who only ever focused on winning matches. Even after the matches she tended to leave without talking with them, the Diamond summoners were usually incredibly obnoxious. Maybe it would be a nice break to be summoned in some of the lower tier matches instead.

"Well when I get back I guess I'll find some time to let you summon me Joheim, as a thank you"

"Really!? Wow but you only ever get summoned by the really High Tier summoners, thank-"Joheim started to enthusiastically say before he was cut off by the teleportation spell. Riven's surroundings went completely white and she recoiled a bit. As she began to recover she found herself in an Ornate room. It was full of bookcases, fine wooden furniture and a large desk in the middle, behind which sat an elderly gentleman with a long wispy beard. His robes were far more elaborate than Joheim's and the clear gold and blue inlays showed him to be off the highest tier of summoner. In front of him stood three more men. Another summoner with similarly decorated robes but with a diamond inlay, a tall masked man in purple robes leaning on an uprooted lamppost, and a blue clothed man with wild hair carrying a katana. It appeared she was the last to arrive.

Pain

My wounds have yet to heal fully. He was strong. Of course he was. He was like me. The many that have followed me since have been weak. Students, vengeance, justice, their words as meaningless as their skills.

There must be more, more like him.

I feel it again as I remember the fight, the thrill of battle, a true clash of blades with lives on the line. I raise my sword and strike swiftly, shattering the bark of the tree I had been sitting under.

Stronger, I must find someone stronger.

I strike again. I hear the wood groaning as it weakens.

I must find someone like me.

My final strike cuts straight through the trunk, with a final groan the tree collapses.

I must kill them.

"Ah Miss Riven, how good of you to join us, please take a seat," the High Summoner pointed towards the empty chair next the three. "I'm sure you already know your fellow Champions here Jax and Yasuo, I am High Summoner Horthorn. I believe this is the first time we've properly met since your judgement."

"Uh, yes...a pleasure to meet you?" Replied Riven hesitantly. She wasn't used to addressing people formally, such pleasantries weren't used between Noxians and she had had little time or need to pick them up since.

Sensing her unease, Horthorn gave a reassuring smile. "Do not worry Riven, you needn't worry with formalities, but the reason you three have been summoned here is grave indeed. This here is Summoner Mar-"

"Diamond Summoner Marthus," the other Summoner interrupted, standing up and offering his hand to Riven, "Though I'm sure you already knew that, I do after all summon you on a very regular basis."

The name did sound familiar, but Riven usually had a full week of matches due to her popularity with many summoners, and she didn't talk to any of them outside of matches. "This guy reminds me why I don't," thought Riven as she reluctantly shook his hand "Diamond summoners are always so full of themselves."

"It will be nice finally working with you face to face Riven, I hear you tend to avoid Summoner's and so I recommended you for this mission myself" Marthus explained, "We will need your strength to catch Elder Yamagi's killer."

At this Yasuo jumped out of his chair, "What the hell do you mean Elder Yamagi's killer? Are you trying to tell me the strongest Swordmaster in Ionia has been killed? Don't be stupid!"

The room fell silent, everyone stood in a state of shock, even the usually unreadable Jax looked visibly shaken. Forgetting the creepiness of Summoner Marthus for a moment, Riven thought back to her time in Ionia. One of the most dreaded tales among the Noxian forces told of Yamagi Fireblade, an Ionia swordsman that wielded hellfire through his sword. Rumours were that he cut down an entire battalion on soldiers with one slash of his blade. Though Riven wasn't one to believe in such idle gossip at the time, imagining a flaming Yasuo seemed fairly terrifying.

Horthorn was the first to break the silence, "Please calm yourself Yasuo, the reason you have been summoned here is indeed because of the murder of Elder Yamagi. I understand your disbelief at the situation, I too was shocked by the news. I hope you understand why we at the Institute of War have to get involved."

Slowly Yasuo sat back down. Riven could see this was a very personal subject for him. This would be the second Swordmaster to be murdered, though she quickly remembered that she was the one that killed the first, Yasuo's own teacher. How could she possibly try to comfort someone after that?

"With someone this dangerous on the loose, we have been asked to aprehend the suspect. Summoner Marthus will be leading the investigation with you three supporting him, I will leave it to him to explain the details."

"Hang on a minute," Jax's deep voice interrupted, "If this was just a murder investigation, how come the Ionian guard isn't handling this, at the very least Irelia could be going, why are we involved?"

"Good question," Riven thought to herself, "Why send two exiles and a mercanary to do policing work in the very county they fled from?"

"That is because this is not a simple murder investigation dear Jax," Marthus explained, "Elder Yamagi was not simply killed in his sleep, he challenged an intruder in the temple and was killed in the fight. Not only that but the remaining students were all brutally cut down afterwards."

Another tense silence filled the room. This news was even more shocking. Who on earth would have the power to kill a temple full of Fireblade students, their master included? Riven's mind suddenly flashed to her dream, red gates, clashing blades, flashes of crimson? She thought it was blood at the time, but could it possibly have been...

"This team has been selected carefully based on the nature of the case. It is likely that the killer was a student at the temple as they were clearly using Fireblade techniques. The remarkable resemberlance to Riven and Yasuo's case means they were obvious choices. Jax you were chosen due to your immense skill in hand to hand combat that will be vital in taking down someone of their skill." Explained Marthus.

Yasuo turned to Riven with a sharp gaze. She shudered, it was the look of a man that wanted blood.

"I have already forgiven you Riven, but it is clear that you still don't trust me, can I trust you to help me catch this guy?" Yasuo asked, his gaze unwavering.

Riven gulped, he read her completely, she still hated how easily he had forgiven her, but this was a chance to at least try to make amends.

"Yes, you can trust me," Riven returned his look.

Yasuo's face softened and he sighed. "Well I guess that's good enough for me, hey Marty make sure you bring enough booze, me and Jax aren't coming otherwise."

"You will address me as Summoner Marthus and you will not be drinking on the mission, the League isn't your own personal bar!"

Riven smiled, maybe this trip wouldn't be so bad after all, her thoughts suddenly turned to her dream. Well appart from the fire wielding sword murderer at least.

Reviews and comments always welcome