Edit: So yeah, I realized I had made a huge mistake during one of the conversations between the three. So don't be surprised (if you've already read the chapter) if something Caitlyn says to Xerath is very off. Enjoy!
Back in the luscious chamber, the three travelers had finally come to rest, Caitlyn and Annabella tending to their fresh wounds while Xerath stood watch by the window. He had dimmed his core to nothing more than a dark wisp of blue tendrils; the only thing that gave way to him standing there was his enchantment. He was uneasy, although he did not allow himself to make any notions of it.
Caitlyn had placed her rifle back against the wall, sitting down at the table. A pink rash replaced a good chunk of her natural peach pigment over her arms. She was carefully wrapping leftover bandages around her neck, cringing several times as a sharp pain traveled through her. Over on the bed Annabella was adjusting herself, placing her satchel down while examining Juniper for cracks.
No one had said a word since entering the room.
The girl, Xerath thought, must have more magic under her control than I was able to confirm. If she was capable of suppressing me for even that short duration, I must be ready to take action against any darker motives she may have. He could not fathom how she was able to do it with him being conscious, but he had assumed her to be the only logical source. If one is not near the location they deal out the magic to subdue another, without the help of massive rune chambers or tremendous enchantments, it would be nigh impossible.
Nonetheless, it happened to him. Xerath, with his back turned to the others, slowly rotated his mask to glare at the summoner as she hovered the orb between her hands, a sigh of relief lifting from quiet voice.
"Okay, mage, it's about time you tell me…us why you rashly pursued her. And what I think I caught you two doing…" Caitlyn subtly hinted, not once raising her gaze as she finished cleaning up her blood.
Xerath turned the rest of himself around, bringing his arms up crossly as a bit of his usual tone returned to his disembodied voice.
"As I said before, it is of my own reason; and I was doing nothing more than observing the rune work on her." Annabella looked shyly away as Caitlyn snapped her attention to him, her tone lethal, "I helped you and this is what I receive in return? I had always thought you to be someone of reason, no matter how emotionless you are."
Even as the two were at different ends of the room, the champions stared each other down. Exasperated, Xerath considered what she said, some of his pride withering as he knew her to be right.
"I pursued her because she risked herself defending me; she came seeking for my aid. Therefore, I am agreeing to help her as way of payment. I don't like to leave debts unpaid. It is the only reason. Although I did not expect her to run away like that," he nodded towards Annabella, gaze still locked with the sheriff, "Also, I believed I was heading for a key item of interest that I had come out here in the first place to gain. Unfortunately, I lost tract of it before the fighting ensued."
Xerath glided over to Annabella, trying to seem a little less daunting.
"You asked of my help, did you not?"
Annabella looked hesitantly at Caitlyn then back, her posture stiff, "Yes. I had high hopes that you would be able to help me with a dilemma that has come about my friend." Continuing, her eyes fell onto Juniper, "He's a mage, you see; he has found a curious ancient artifact, but doesn't wish to inform the League out of fear that they will confiscate it. He says he wishes to study it and thought that perhaps another mage, such as yourself, would be able to identify it and bring about worthy information that you both can utilize."
She grew silent again, not bringing her attention up to the mage as he in turn thought about it. Such an object could explain that curious beast from earlier, although that is highly improbable.
"In exchange of my aid," he began, her eyes becoming wide as she looked to him, "you must answer some questions regarding your magic and such, plus why the League is allowing you to speak with me. Unless, that was a lie just to gain my attention."
Annabella blushed as her bluff was caught. "I agree to your terms. Forgive me please of my past misdemeanor…" Xerath waved one clawed hand back and forth, ignoring her plea.
Caitlyn finally broke into the conversation, making him weary, "Where you go, I go. After all, I came to find you and bring you back. And since you've decided to be a jerk and ignore the Council, I have no choice but to wait 'til you've done what you wanted, although they will not be pleased."
Cocking her head sideways, hands resting on her hips as she ruffled her dress, she gave a sly smile, "Try to make any attempts to ditch me and I promise to drag you back in a sealed bag before you can reconstruct yourself after I've dismantled you."
Xerath just turned his attention back to the window, his sarcophagus twitching. Facing her on the Fields was a challenge in itself; who knows how far she will go to try and carry out her promises. Then again, leaving her would allow him some more space to think.
"Very well, I will put up with you until then." Caitlyn gave him an angry glare as she relaxed back into the chair.
"Umm, would you be suitable with me taking the bed? I'm absolutely fine with giving it to you Champion Caitlyn." The summoner hastily stated, noting the sheriff tediously bringing her hat a bit down over her face; she had dragged the other chair over to prop her feet on as she settled.
Caitlyn looked to her, and then closed her eyes, signaling she was fine. In a matter of seconds, she fell half asleep, her attention still regarding the room, but not enough of the other two.
Xerath absently turned back to the summoner, scoffing at the weakness of flesh and blood. Eyeing Annabella, he changed his tone to a more human manner; however, it still carried its deep and impeccable harshness as it reverberated around the room.
"Earlier, back before that sly woman had intervened, what gave you such courage to touch me? I dare say that was not what I was expecting at all."
Annabella became flustered, pulling her hood back over her face as she tried to shy away from him, her legs dangling over the bed as she spoke kindly.
"Please forgive me. I had wanted to stop the rain from seeping into you, but that is a silly notion. Even if I had covered the fracture completely, you would have not cared if neither rain nor wind came about you…" Bringing her gaze back to his, her blush deepened, "you seemed…uncomfortable."
He stood there shocked expecting any other answer, something more along the lines to see if he was real, or just a floating mass of rocks and magic. How could she possibly perceive my emotions? No other can understand me unless I permit it...and I did not allow it…
Alarmed, he asked, "How? How did you know what I was conveying…?" He had dropped both of his arms, not caring for the moment how he appeared to her. Everyone else had always given him a wide berth since he joined the League, many of them thinking he would smite them on the spot.
She had her full attention back to him, her eyes closed as she smiled.
"I don't really know; I guess I could just tell."
He was greatly disturbed, but overcome a bit with delight as he saw Tabia before him again. His core brightened to a soothing blue haze, making the sharp angles of the sarcophagus dull. The girl does have an uncanny resemblance, although her attitude is the complete opposite...
Xerath then changed the subject, his past memories once more escaping the lock he had placed on them.
"About your orb, why do you cling to it so? Not many would place their magic on such a meager and frail object."
The serenity she displayed was suddenly gone, replaced with profound melancholy, although her tone did not give way to it, "Its' name is Juniper. I need it otherwise my magic is pointless; I can't do anything without it…" She didn't like where this conversation was going, it was too close to becoming a danger.
Xerath inquisitively brought his claws to his mask, uncertainty on the edge of his mind.
"So it seems. May I ask of this other mage and the artifact?"
Annabella slightly nods, eyelids beginning to droop, "His name is Maliezek, a high-level summoner, and well renowned mage of Noxus. I am to take you to a secluded camp site close to Freljord, along the Serpentine River. You can see why he didn't want the league to know of his whereabouts."
Xerath shrugged his shoulder plating, knowing she meant of the Demacia-Noxus rivalry, but did not really care. Such things were beneath him.
"As for the artifact, I really can't give the information to you since nothing of it was told to me."
The summoner had grown very tired, but tried to stay awake to maintain the conversation. As she lifted her legs onto the bed, Xerath caught sight of a strange marking, not like the rest that covered her. It resembled―
Hastily, Annabella covered her foot, not looking back to face him; she subsequently inspected Juniper again and sharply inhaled the dank air. There on its surface was a small but noticeable crack, breaking some of the alignments of the mysterious pattern. She delicately tucked Juniper back into her satchel, ignoring Xerath's questioning stare.
Just as she was about to roll onto her side to sleep, he yanked her foot out, jolting her wide awake. He cautiously removed the small sock that ended at her ankle, and was taken aback; there on her foot was a crack similar to the blue orb, stretching across her heel and disappearing underneath the bandages covering her leg.
"May I?" Xerath gently asked, gesturing at her injured limb. Annabella had closed her eyes in a pained way, lips held taut as she acknowledged his request. As she brought her other leg back over the edge, he carefully unwrapped the bandages, stopping at the calf to assess the damage.
The dark fracture sliced through the markings just like on Juniper, appearing as if someone had taken a small pebble and tapped it firmly against a glass goblet. It covered half the region of her leg, explaining her tiresome limping.
"What kind of enchantment has cursed you, summoner? There is very potent magic here behind this thing…" Xerath hissed, letting her go and simultaneously gesturing at her satchel.
"My friend isn't the only one who needs your help," she whispered, bringing her gaze back to him while she covered the strange wound, "the magic is of an unknown origin. Maliezek proposed to me that you'd be capable of breaking this curse with the usage of the artifact…but…I don't see how…" She quickly wiped her eyes, steeling her tone to its former self.
"I wanted to ask you from earlier why the golden lock on your chest broke apart during that horrid fight. I have never seen that happen on the Fields before, as I have guided you through the matches."
Xerath squinted his eyes, uncertainty questioning all that he thought about her. If she is boldly asking of my predicament, she must be playing me for a fool...or is honestly trying to be earnest. Hmmmm…
"I have no idea how such actions came to be on this enchantment; I had thought of you to be the one responsible, as the markings along you were very similar to its own nature." Annabella became offended as she brought a fist tightly into her chest; her voice grew cold as well.
"I didn't do that at all! Just because the markings are consistent, it doesn't make me a valid suspect. I'm sorry you came to such a conclusion, but it was not me."
The room was silent again, only filled with the soft tapping of rain against the window and Caitlyn's steady breathing.
"You should get some rest and gather your strength," he spoke up, momentarily shattering the illusive peace, "since we travel tomorrow to this mage, Maliezek, there will be much walking and you are poorly injured. How sad the flesh of mortality limits you."
Annabella finally relaxed her head onto her pillow, giving another weary sigh and fell deep into slumber. She did not care of the magus' statement but was instead grateful for having such a weakness; it proved to her that it was okay to be without everlasting life. She dreaded over the idea of sitting awake day and night, to never truly rest the mind.
She learned to welcome death from her childhood, living in an inhospitable world that had taken much from her.
As she fell asleep, she wrapped her cloak tightly around herself, facing away from Xerath.
He had glided back to the window, dimming his core light again as he leaned against the dresser. He could not leave now because of the promise he had made. Although he loathed the lesser being he used to be, Xerath still had respect for mortal codes of honor.
Withdrawing his mind to his innermost self, in his way, he relaxed as he went over the day's events. Xerath tried to detect the source of energy that had called to him from before, but it gave no signs of presenting itself.
Huffing he thought crossly And I am nowhere closer to finding the key to release myself from this burden. How dreary; the Institute will hold me much like Brand if I return with this enchantment still clinging to me…
(The next morning…)
A soft tapping echoed off the finely crafted door as the sun rose a little above the horizon, the sky still cloudy. As the door opened on squeaky hinges, Caitlyn greeted the innkeeper's servant girl.
"Thanks for the wakeup call, but it is unneeded now." She stated coolly, her rifle slung over shoulder.
The servant girl had only heard about the commotion from yesterday and didn't believe a word of it.
That is until she saw both champions in the little room, each with their own quality of power and authority. Xerath stood by the wall, ignoring the gawking of the small woman while Annabella collected her belongings and placed her satchel back on.
Before the servant had arrived, Xerath helped Annabella with her bandages, treating her like she was glass flower. Caitlyn had then asked him for some help, and he complied with bandaging her neck a bit too rough.
It left the two of them arguing fiercely about how to handle people without killing them in the process. Caitlyn had won the argument as she threated to drag him back to the Institute with the aid of every other champion, leaving him in an unpleasant mood.
Descending the flight of stairs, Xerath in back with Caitlyn at the forefront, the three had stopped at the entrance. Xerath glided over to the front counter, greeting the innkeeper with his harsh voice, making the man shrink.
"Here," he said, twisting his hand in the air making a small bag of coins appear, "this should cover all of the damage I had previously dealt." The innkeeper hesitantly took the bag, gave a small thank you, and went back to tending to the tavern.
Caitlyn was the first to step outside; the clamor of the shops coming to life as many common folk went on their way. As Xerath and Annabella joined her, many of the people took great attentiveness at giving them a wide berth.
Signing, the sheriff glanced at him, "I never receive this much attention unless I'm among the corrupt dogs that I hunt." He just looked to his side, ignoring her criticism. Before Caitlyn was able to poke more fun at him, Annabella spoke up.
"I should probably shop for some provisions so as to not slow us down on the journey. It's probably going to take me about an hour; you both can wait for me at the northernmost exit." Before she took a step towards the town's market district, Xerath spoke swiftly, "I will accompany you. I would like to see the objects you believe are necessary for this trip."
Caitlyn rolled her eyes, not wanting to hear the magus go on and on about how he doesn't require such items. She quickly grabbed Annabella's wrist and tugged her in the direction of the first booth with colorful fruits. Xerath hovered closely behind.
As they went over the stands, Caitlyn could tell there was something strange with him and how he reacted to the tattooed girl.
At one of the booths, Annabella held up a large purple plant with roots that wiggled around like worms between herself and Xerath. He hesitantly inspected it, asking the merchant several questions of its viability. Annabella gently smiled, talking about how she used it for cooking in some of her recipes; as he took a hold of it, the plant melted, dripping its' content onto the ground.
The merchant angrily demanded for compensation; Annabella quietly giggled as she paid for the plant and two more like it. Satisfied, the merchant went about his business, while Xerath, disgruntled, burned what was left of the fragrant vegetable to ashes. Caitlyn was expecting him to blow his top, but he went about his way following her.
She just trailed closely behind, inspecting some of the stands and glaring down several men that had lustily tried and sell her some wine.
As the shopping ended, the three of them stood at the designated entrance leading them north past the Howling Marsh. Annabella had bought three gray cloaks, the edges of the fabric dipped in a golden silk forming a beautiful system of runes and symbols. Discarding her damaged one, she replaced it with the new material.
"Here, you both should wear these," Annabella suggested as she handed each of them the finely woven fabric. Caitlyn pulled the cloak around herself, repositioning her gun on her back. Xerath just looked blankly at it, not making any motions.
"Is something wrong, Champion? I didn't mean to offend you with this." Annabella asked, trying to think of a way to appease him.
Xerath closed his blue slits, straining to remember the texture of fabric. "Nothing is wrong, summoner."
He awkwardly puts it on, binding it together at the front. The hood rested against the back of his mask as he hovered half a foot from the ground, the material barely brushing against the dirt. He studied it noticing his own light being barely visible.
"A special type of spell for concealment is imbedded into your cloak, to help keep your radiance from spilling onto everything," as Xerath looked back to her she added, "where we are going, your energy could mean disaster if unwanted attention is attracted to us."
"I understand, but I am capable of hiding my own light."
Annabella sympathetically raised her head as she was forced to look up at him, "That would be asking too much of you for the entire duration of the trip; surely you can wear this without fretting over your own power?" As Xerath acknowledged in agreement, Caitlyn gawked at her.
"You're a summoner?!" she then swiveled to look at Xerath then back to the girl.
Him of all champions I would expect to not associate with nor help, no matter what level the summoner is or how far they go to help him in return. What on Valoran is going on?
Xerath ignored Caitlyn's bewilderment, trying to find a comfortable position with the cloak. Annabella had turned to her, eyebrows pulled down in confusion.
"What is so wrong with me being a summoner?" Caitlyn just turned back to Xerath, thrusting one hand out to the side, palm up at Annabella. He signed, temporarily hoping that he would not have to explain.
"What is your level among the Institute?"
"I'm a mid-level summoner, but I still don't―" Xerath raised his claws up quickly, silencing her.
"I see. It is well known among the champions that there are those of us who would seek harm onto your kind, the summoners. Those like Shaco, and Thresh would be completely delighted to hunt you down and slowly kill you."
The summoner became stricken with fear as he continued, "However, there are a small handful of other champions who are opposed to such violence outside of the Fields, Caitlyn being one of them." He gestured at the enforcer.
"Tell her about yourself, Xerath." Caitlyn jabbed.
"I…well you see I don't very much take to liking summoners myself, nor their squabbling."
"Oh, and he forgot to mention," Caitlyn sarcastically stated rolling her eyes skyward, "that he put a group of summoners into a medic center after his temper was let loose. Three got away with minor burns, but two of them are still being heavily treated."
Annabella, somewhat fearful of the new information, looked back to him, "Is what she said true?"
The pain on her face could not equal the sudden despair that filled his mind. Seeing her look at him for the first time with fear vexed his thoughts, but more out of sorrow than anger.
"Yes...I was sorely responsible for the incident. Had the young man stopped mocking me and treating me like a fool, I would have let him be. I didn't mean to bring this troubling news to light."
He glared at Caitlyn then looked back at the summoner, waiting for her to say she wanted to search for help elsewhere. Instead, she boldly faced him, fists clenched.
"It doesn't matter; what matters is getting you to mage Maliezek." She turned around and limped off in the direction of the designated site.
Caitlyn was quickly by her side, asking if she wanted any help. After a few moments, Xerath hesitantly glided after the two women, feeling a bit guilty.
These feelings are becoming incredibly aggravating; first those memories and now this. When will it end?
(Author's Note)
This chapter was a bit of fun as the conversations (hopefully) meshed correctly. Things seem to be also growing harder on Xerath, although I must admit it's going to progressively get worst for him. Tee hee XD More chapters still coming! Enjoy.
(Disclaimer)
I do not own League of Legends, nor its champions, settings, etc. I do own Annabella and Maliezek though.