Hello again! I wanted so bad to upload this chapter but I had no time, and now less because of school. Anyway, here is the fourth chapter of the story, hope you like it. Remember, anything you want to tell me is welcomed. Enjoy.
Chapter 3 - The tough trial
"Well, Neron was right. You could never miss this", said Nezbak while he looked to the entrance of the Institute.
It was an absurdly big building, that had two pillars guarding the stairs, both with massive crystals on the top. A fountain was built in the middle of the stairs, and it flowed like a natural river following the path.
"Why are there so many stairs?". Even though the outer design of the structure was something beautiful, he couldn't avoid to notice the stupid amount of stairs that he needed to go up just to get to the entrance. "If I don't get going right now, I'll have to sleep in the middle of them", and he started going up.
After about three minutes, he finally reached the main entrance. "Hell, this is tiring. Just why did they make so many?". He was searching somewhere to rest when he saw a figure covered with purple robes staring at him, with a hood over his head so he wasn't able of seeing his face. Before he could ask anything, the strange man spoke.
"Welcome, young traveller, to the League of Legends, and its house, the Institute of War. Please follow me this way", and without further explanation, he started to walk, straight to the entrance. Nezbak almost ran to catch up with him.
At the entrance were two guards, heavily armored and equipped with a sword and a heavy spear. The armors of the guards were not normal, he could felt some kind of magic emanating from them.
"You can ask me anything before we reach our destination, so please, don't stay with any doubt". Nezbak looked to the man. There was something strange from him as well. Hesitating a little, Nezbak started to make questions.
"Those guards, why were their armors covered with powerful magic?"
"As you know, the League is home of not only powerful magicians, but also for champions. Some of them can be representatives of their city-state, while some others are more vile creatures. The magic impregnated in that armor increase all their abilities, so if for some reason they need to fight a champion, that armor will avoid that they die within seconds". A very complete answer, something that Nezbak was not expecting for.
"So there are really all kind of creatures in this place...this will be extremely fun", he thought to himself.
They entered the building, and arrived to a big room filled with people, some of them merchants, some of them bookmakers, and the majority normal people, buying their entrance for the next match of the League.
"This is what you may call the lobby", said the strange man. "Here, merchants try to sell new products for the champions, people pay to get an entrance for the matches, and every business related to the League you can imagine...all completely legal inside our walls and according to our terms of course". They kept walking past the lobby, straight to a courtyard, but before they reached it, the man turned to a long hallway, a continued walking past several gates. He stayed like this for some minutes, until he turned again to another hallway.
"Excuse me, what is this place? Where are you taking me?". Nezbak was only able to see that they were walking through a lot of hallways, making a turn eventually and passing by several gates.
"Do not worry. This is what you can call the administration of the Institute. Here, we manage all our outcome and income of everyday. This is also where we put the ambassadors from the city-states to rest. We also have all the information of summoners and champions alike. For example, the mental condition of a champion or the record of the fights a summoner have had. For something more political, we also keep copies of official documents that may state control over a territory, and all that". Without perturbation, he continued, and when down a staircase.
Nezbak stayed up, hesitating. This didn't seemed right. He literally attacked two members of the League, why was everything so calm in there? He didn't know what to do, his instincts weren't saying anything.
"Is there any trouble?", the strange man asked from below.
"None, I'm on my way down". He inhaled and then exhaled slowly, preparing for anything.
When he got down, he saw the man standing in front of a door that was at the end of the hallway. Different from the others, the torches were blue, so they gave an spooky look. "Over here if you don't mind". Nezbak slowly stepped closer to the man, and was still unable to watch through the hood. "You are being expected. Go inside. I promise you, nothing will happen". The man opened the door and stepped aside. Nezbak stared at him, and then walked towards the gate, but before entering, he turned to the man.
"I know you know what happened down there. Why are you doing this?". The man said nothing, and just made a signal to Nezbak to get inside. Nezbak obeyed, and got in, but not before looking back again. The man was gone. Suddenly, the door closed, taking away any light from outside. This brought back nasty memories to Nezbak, making him shake for a bit and to start sweating. "Everything is fine, there is no need to worry. Just relax, breathe slow...".
He got interrupted by a strange sound. He turned, searching for the source of it, and then saw a mirror. That seemed strange. Even though the mirror was hanged on a wall...he didn't remember to see a wall there. He got closer to inspect it, just to see himself reflected. He stayed like that, looking to the mirror, when suddenly, the mirror was not there anymore, and he teleported to a very familiar place.
It was midday, and the sun was in the position where your shadow is right below you. One of the hottest day he could remember. To the distance, innumerable dunes could be seen, with no signs of life near, except for the oasis they ran into a few days ago. He was sitting over a rock, with his feet inside the fresh water, just relaxing and enjoying the moment, when the voice of a woman came from far behind.
"Nezbak! Where are you? I told you to bring water ages ago!".
"I'm going!". He quickly stood up and grabbed a bucket filled with water, and started to walk to the place where the voice came from. He reached a caravan that set camp outside the oasis, filled with men and women and kids playing all around. Outside one of the tents, there was a woman searching for someone.
She was around thirty five years, and had long dark hair falling to her back, with big light brown eyes, the sun shining over her skin. When she saw him, she put a hand on her waist. He walked towards here, with his head down.
"Sorry mom, it's just that, you know, after wandering in the desert after so long and finally finding this place, I just wanted to relax".
"This caravan...my mom...this is Shurima, before anything started...", thought Nezbak. Somehow, he was at his place of birth again. But how? He was inside the Institute last he remembered. Maybe it was just a dream, perhaps nothing actually happened and he was back at his home with his parents. He desired that.
The woman smiled to Nezbak.
"Always wandering don't you? I keep telling you that you either become someone or you get in a big trouble." Nezbak smiled back at her, and went inside the tent to leave the bucket. When he got out again, he saw a man hugging his mother. A man around forty years old, equipped with two scimitars and very light clothes. When he saw Nezbak, he walked towards him with an smile he was trying to hide.
"Hello little man! Your mother says you've been wandering again. What have you found?"
"Nothing this time dad. Mom didn't gave enough time".
"Is that so?", said the man looking back at his mother. "Well then, I think I finally beat you. I got you something you may like", and taking a hand out, he gave to Nezbak a wooden tablet, filled with scripts of the ancient shuriman language. Nezbak look astonished at the little treasure.
"Where did you find this!?".
"You won't believe me, but I found it buried in the sand not so far away, while I was doing my guard. I knew you would like it. Just because you've been a good boy, you may return to the lake, but don't take to long. I'm starving and I won't wait for you, understood?".
"Thanks dad!", he ran back to his tent and took out a little notebook and a pencil, and then ran straight to the lake. When he reached it, he opened the notebook and started to copy the scripts, and after some minutes, he fell asleep.
Suddenly, he woke up. It was noon already, and strange noises filled the place. How long did he sleep? His parents probably were searching for him, he needed to return. He took his stuff and returned back, but something was telling him to stay there. He simply ignored the feeling and kept walking, until he saw fire.
"Fire? That is strange". He continued until he saw clearly what was happening, and what he was made him froze. Dozens of bodies laid on the sand, and tents were burning everywhere. From afar, he could see some men with heavy armor chasing down and killing anyone who tried to run. Without knowing what to do, he walked to the place where his tent was supposed to be.
It was burned, and right in front was the body of a woman, with arrows on her back. "Mom?", Nezbak asked, walking slowly towards her.
"NO!", Nezbak screamed. Why was this happening again? He wanted to wake up. He wanted it to stop.
His hand reached the body of the woman, and shook her a little.
"Mom?", Nezbak repeated. There was no answer. He could hear heavy footsteps coming. Suddenly, a hand touched his shoulder, making him jump.
"Nezbak, get out of here now! Go back to the oasis, quickly!". His father screamed at him. He had both scimitars unsheathed, dripping blood. Nezbak tried to obey, still not knowing what happened, until he saw how his father screamed in pain and fell to his knees. An arrow was in his back, shot from a man standing behind him.
"Hey boss, I found a fox trying to sneak!", the man screamed. Before he could continue talking, Nezbak's father turned and swung both scimitars, killing the man with deep cuts in his chest. He turned back to Nezbak and tried to tell him something before another man came and hit his head, making him fall to the ground.
"You've been the bastard that kept killing all my men, eh? Your luck has run out". He took out a knife and prepared to cut his throat until he saw Nezbak. A sadistic smile appeared in his face. "Is that your son?", the man asked. Nezbak's father didn't answer, and just stared at him full of hate. "I'll take that as a yes!". The man hit Nezbak's father again and started to walk towards Nezbak, taking out a short sword, still smiling sadistically.
"No! Leave him alone! It's just a child!". Those where the last words he heard from his father. The man raised his sword and gave a strike to Nezbak, making a cut from below the left side of his jaw down to the right side of his waist. Instantly, he felt an unbearable pain and fell to the ground. His sight fainted, and the last thing he saw, was his father being stabbed by the man.
"STOP!"
The scream made him react from the trance. He was still in the dark room, crying and shaking.
"Why? What is this?". He looked to the mirror. "Magic...a magic to unveil your memories?".
"You are correct Nezbak", said the voice of a woman in his mind. "We use this magic to know the past and the lives of summoners and champions alike. This is a powerful magic, but somehow you managed to block it out. It's not nice, we know it, but is a procedure everybody has to do".
"Believe me", said Nezbak after calming himself, "there are things from me you better not know."
"But we need to know them. If not, you won't become a member of the League". Nezbak stayed silent, hesitating about what to do.
"Even if that thing is Icathia?". There was no response from the voice, just silence.
"You've been in Icathia? How...are you still you?"
"Let's make a deal. I'll show you anything you need to see, except everything related to Icathia. Deal?". Again, no response. He could hear mumbling, like if they were debating what to do. After a few minutes, the voice spoke again.
"Nezbak, son of the desert, you are someone that the League would be pleased to have in its ranks. You are one of a kind, and it will be unfair for you and stupid from us to not accept you in the League. Therefore, we agree. After all, you are not the only human that believes that Icathia should remain hidden".
Half an hour passed where Nezbak showed the memories they needed to see. All his adventures, all his expeditions, all the people he met, they saw everything with exception of Icathia and anything related. Finally, he returned to the room, this time full of light. There was nothing in that room, literally nothing. It was empty.
He felt exhausted. After all, remembering about ten years of your life is not an easy task. The voice returned to him, telling him to leave the room and that someone would be expecting him outside.
The door opened behind him, and he walked towards it. When he got out, he saw another person with the purple robes, but this time it was a woman.
"My name is high councillor Vessaria Kolminye, one of your judges at this trial. I'd like to welcome you, summoner Nezbak, to the League of Legends!"
Yes, a summoner. No, I won't change it, I had the idea from long ago. I hoped you liked it. If you could leave a review of your opinion about how the story is going, I would be very pleased.
Note: If the story and the character become popular enough, MAYBE I'd made a fanfic narrating his past. But it would be until I finish this one.