Author's note: Yeeaah, not one week. Sorry. I was busier than I thought I would be. Anyway, thank you for your patience and enjoy this chapter :).
They led the two of them down the hallway and through the door at the end. On the other side lay a relatively large room – though it was much smaller than the arching entrance halls they'd just left. Across from them a curved table stood, seating five, serious, elder humans.
As the four of them made their way towards it, the woman on the right stalled them with a raised hand; her dark hair – pulled back in a style similar to Akali's – swaying slightly from the abrupt motion. "Could the one called Kennen please step forward," she spoke sternly.
The kit did so, feeling his stomach tighten in nervousness. The towering desk before him made him feel very small standing there alone in the centre of focus.
"I am Kennen," he tried to stop his voice from quavering.
"Kennen," the serious male with salt and pepper hair spoke calmly, "Do you know why you are here?"
"Well," he fidgeted, "I think so. It started because of the dare I had of running up the side of the Placidium wall – which I am sorry about. But there was also something about having the potential to be a ninja and about keeping balance in the world?" He trailed off unsure.
The white bearded man on the left nodded, alleviating some of the boy's uncertainty. "You have been recommended by both Shen and Akali as the best candidate for the triumvirate member the Heart of the Tempest, tasked with the sacred duty of Coursing the Sun."
"What?" Kennen gasped, his ears rising and falling in surprise.
The man continued, "If you choose to accept, you will be trained and tested for this role, whereby you would work with Shen and Akali to preserve the balance. Your job will be to provide warning to those causing imbalance, and if they do not comply, to help resolve the issue by other means."
"Do you have any questions?" the other female asked.
"I-" for once Kennen had nothing to say; the shock over this momentous proposition wiping all coherent thought.
He was saved from saying anything further when his dad stepped forward. "I have some questions," he said calmly.
"And you would be?" the lady on the right asked.
"Miles Swiftfoot. Kennen's father."
"Proceed then Mr Swiftfoot."
"I assume that he will be trained here," the dark furred yordle started.
"You assume correctly," the male in the centre confirmed.
"For how long?"
The elders looked over to the male on the far left, as he stroked his white beard in contemplation. "It depends on the person," he explained. "Based on your son's age and experience I'd say… mmm… three years."
Miles shook his head, "Three years is much too long for a yordle to go without interacting with another yordle."
That made the bald male on the right chuckle, "Do not worry. He is not the first yordle we have had here. In fact, there are a few living here at the moment. They will make sure he stays sane. He will also be taught meditative tricks to help should he be required to go on long solo missions."
Taking in the conversation, a realisation struck Kennen. "My family. I'll have to leave them won't I?" he spoke it softly, but it was still heard.
"Yes."
At their answer the young teen's face filled with anguish, "Will I be able to see them again?"
"They will not be able to visit you here, it is too dangerous," the elderly woman advised him. "But you will be able to write to them, and when you do not have any duties, you can visit them."
Silence fell over the room before the other lady ordered, "If you do not have any more questions, we would like your decision."
Kennen looked at his father. "Dad, what do I do?" he pleaded.
The older yordle sighed, crouching lower, "I can't tell you that Kennen. This has to be your decision. All I ask is that you think it over carefully. This is a big decision. It will be hard work and it will be dangerous. If this is what you want we'll support you, but I want you to go into this with your eyes open. Do you understand?"
Kennen nodded before falling still. His face scrunched up in concentration and his ears flicking every now and then. After several minutes of silence he sighed before meeting the elders' eyes, his face serious.
"I accept," he said decisively. "I know it means giving up my family and I know it isn't going to be easy. But I want to do this. I want to make a difference. And I really think I can do that here; using the talents I've always had. Here I have the chance to not only protect my home but the whole world. I know it's a big task, that it'll be dangerous and that I'll have to give up a lot for it. But after all that I have learned about the balance, I think your cause is worth it."
Miles smiled. "That's my son," he murmured softly.
The serious man nodded once, "Well spoken." Rising to his feet he continued, "You will begin training immediately."
"Wait," the yordling panicked, "don't I get to say goodbye?"
"He is only young," Shen spoke up. "Saying goodbye is a good way to come to a serious understanding of what he is undertaking, as well as allowing for closure. This is especially important for such a socially dependant race."
"Very well," the council nodded. "Shen, you may accompany them back."
The journey back to the inn was much quieter than before; even Kennen was subdued. The normally energetic yordling was content to stick close to his father, holding his hand as a physical comfort in a way he had not done in a long, long time. Behind them Shen quietly observed their interactions.
When they reached the inn, Kennen's behaviour drastically changed: the boy's demeanour going from downcast and collected to excited and energetic in a second, as he bolted full pace up the stairs.
Used to his son's antics, Miles remained unphased. Shen however did blink in mild surprise at the child's sudden shift before adding it to his mental notes on the yordle.
"Mum! Mum! You'll never guess what happened!" the boy's exuberant voice carried out the front door as the two entered.
In the kitchen a pale furred female with apricot hair had her hands full of excited son; Kennen literally bouncing in her face. She chuckled, lightly putting a hand on his head and stilling him with practiced ease. "Calm down. What is it?"
Though stationary, the brown furred yordling still vibrated with excited energy. He turned his sparkling blue eyes up at her, "I'm going to be a ninja!"
"Oh really?" The woman raised an eyebrow at the boy. "And what exactly does becoming a ninja entail?"
Kennen didn't hesitate before launching into an explanation. "Well obviously I'll have to be trained first – here in Ionia – but if I succeed I'll become the Heart of the Tempest. It's a really important part of the ninja clan. The Kinkou clan I think they're called: they dedicate their lives to tirelessly keeping the harmony and balance in the world. And they think I have the ability to fill this crucial role! All because I ran up the Placidium wall! I thought I was going to be in sooo much trouble but instead I got taken to this really cool temple and this room full of old people and they told us a whole lot of information and dad asked some questions like about training and if there were any other yordles – which there are – and then they asked me if I wanted to train to become a part of their clan and maintain balance in Valoran. I didn't really understand what was so important about balance to begin with but Akali explained it. You see, even though it doesn't feel that way sometimes, everything needs to be kept in harmony otherwise really bad stuff could happen and whole civilisations could be wiped out. Anyway, they think I have the right talents to fill this role. Which is awesome! They make such a big difference in this world and I could help. So I said yes."
He paused here looking at his mum earnestly. The pale yordle cast a questioning look to her husband, gaining a little reassurance from his nod before turning back to her son.
"Are you sure about this?" She asked him worriedly.
"Yes mum," his responded, his face more serious than she had ever seen it. "I want to do this. Despite knowing everything I'll have to face and everything I'll have to give up, I still want to do this. It just… feels right."
Nina cupped his face, "When did you grow up so fast? I swear it feels like just yesterday you were running around my ankles butt naked."
"Muuum," Kennen complained, face going red.
She chuckled, "Sorry. What I'm saying is: I'm going to miss you."
He let her pull him into a hug. "Yeah, I'm going to miss you too. You and dad and Teemo and – Teemo!" His head shot up in a frantic sweep of the room. Catching no sight of the kit's pale form, the older boy pulled himself out of his mum's grip, sprinting through the house to find his brother.
"TEEM-ow! His shout was cut off when he ran face first into the bedroom door. The bedroom door that was locked.
"Teemo are you in there?" He called, pressing his ear to the door.
"Go away!" The snapped response came through the door.
"Come on Teemo, open the door. I need to talk to you," Kennen wheedled.
"No! I know what you're going to say. You're leaving me."
The hazel teen sighed, leaning his head against the door. Through it he could hear his brother's muffled sobs.
"I'm not- leaving because of you," he said slowly, each word measured with uncharacteristic thought. "But I have the chance here to make a big difference. Come on, don't you remember all the times we talked about protecting Bandle?"
"But that was together. This isn't!"
Despite growing up in the orphanage, Teemo had very few insecurities or quirks from it, and he naturally integrated into their family life. As a result, it was easy to forget that he hadn't always been a part of it. However, when he'd first moved in, it had become very clear early on that he carried a deep seated fear of being left behind. With no idea why he'd been left at the orphanage, it had been a valid fear; and the first few months of living with them had come with the difficulty from all parties to learn how to deal with it. As time went on however, Teemo had gained more confidence to be himself, no longer worried that his actions might lead to him being sent back to the orphanage and the fear seemed to disappear. Now though, Kennen's departure was striking the wrong cord, and his overwhelming fear of his brother leaving forever was overriding the young kit's rational that it wasn't his fault.
Despite this, Kennen continued talking, hoping to help him understand. "Honestly, I don't think that was ever going to happen. I'm not cut out for military life. I have way too much energy. And you know as well as I do that they have too many rules and restrictions. Heck, I couldn't even make it through Tenderfeet. There's no way I would have made it through military training. And can you honestly see me as a scientist or politician?" He chuckled at the thought. "Excluding that, there's not really anything else I can do; nothing meaningful anyway. But I want to make a difference and this opportunity gives me the ability too. I can do a lot, not only for Bandle City but for all of Valoran. Even if I am based in Ionia. And even…if it means I have to say goodbye. I don't want to leave you all but I have to do this. I just feel it."
"But," Teemo's reply was hesitant. "What about me?"
"Well that's the best part. Without me holding you back, you can become the best Mothership Scout ever seen! I bet you could even become famous!" his brother encouraged him. "And nothing would make me prouder."
There was silence from behind the door before the younger boy sighed, "I'm not going to be able to talk you out of this am I?"
"No," Kennen's response was steadfast. "So can you please come out? I don't want to leave without a proper goodbye to my brother. I'm going to miss you."
There were a couple more moments of silence before, ever so slowly, the door opened and Teemo's red-rimmed eyes peeked out. Suddenly, he launched himself at his brother, arms circling him in a death-grip as he cried into the older boy's shirt.
Kennen returned the hug, his own eyes filling with tears. "Aw, don't' cry. You'll make me cry."
"B-but, I'll m-miss you," Teemo sobbed.
The tears trickled over, "Yeah, I'll miss you too."
The two brothers held each other, silent tears running down their faces. No words needed to describe how much this goodbye meant to everyone.
Finally Teemo pulled back, wiping his eyes, "Promise you'll write."
The hazel teen chuckled, "This is me we're talking about."
That prompted a watery smile.
"And I'll probably be busy. But I'll try. I promise. Speaking of letters." And with that the yordle was off again.
Entering the bedroom after him, Teemo was surprised to see the older boy sitting at the desk, furiously writing. Every now and then he would pause before continuing on. About ten minutes later (and a new record Teemo was positive) he finished, sealing the letter up.
His face was serious as he approached his younger brother, "This is for Poppy. I think she deserves an explanation. I can't do this in person so I'm counting on you to give it to her. Think you can do that for me?"
Teemo took the letter with just as serious an expression, "I'll get it to her. I promise."
With a sigh, the teen straightened his shoulders. "Well that's the last goodbye. I guess we should get going now. Can I bring anything?" The subdued question was directed at Shen.
The blue ninja had been silently watching the entire scene play out from the door. However, upon being addressed, he spoke. "You may bring whatever you wish to keep. All other necessities will be provided for you."
Kennen nodded once before rushing back through the room; returning shortly with a small bag of possessions. Then, with one, final, heartfelt goodbye he turned to face his future.
And there we go :). That small arc is done. Don't worry, there is more to come, but this four chapter monster is now complete.
Dalarrin: Hi guest 2 :P. Wow, thank you. This is one of the best reviews I've ever gotten. I'm so glad I could inspire you that way :). I have been writing a novel for a while but it's been kinda slow (I'm not a very fast writer).