It had been some time until Zed fully recovered. He had felt guilty about lashing out at Shen, but his pride was stronger than his guilt. Maybe he would treat his brother to dinner after they killed The Golden Demon. It could be an apology without actually saying it. The thought pleased Zed as he went about putting on his armor and began packing the remnant of his things.

"Leaving?", Master Yi asked the adopted child of Master Kusho. At Zed's nod, he continued, "Greet your father for us. I hope he is well. You should be safe as well, no road and no one are safe. Next time, we might not make it in time." The Master of Wuju left before Zed could give him a snarky, sarcastic retort.

While Zed was appreciative of the care, he still didn't like feeling like the weak-link. He would prove his worth. Somehow. Someway.

He placed his backpack over his shoulder before making a hand sign and dissipating into a smoke, leaving no trace that he was there, barring a small thank you note left on the neatly made bed.

"I don't need you!" Zed spat, swatting Shen's hand away.

He could see unshed tears swimming in those electric-blue eyes.

This was the first time Zed had blown up on his brother. The two were close, inseparable even. However, the stress of this mission was really getting to him.

"Go back to Zhyun!"

Instead of taking out his failures on himself, he projected it on the one man who believed in him and shared in his happiness when he succeeded. The guilt continued eating at Zed's heart.

He needed to shake off these feelings and memories so he could focus on the task at hand. He needed to survey the scene where he fought the Demon.

Surprisingly, it wasn't too far out. Zed's crimson eyes danced over the scene where he had been kicked into the gravel. The dirt pile that had accumulated at the end of his tumble told Zed that his assailant had come from the right. He dashed over and checked the surrounding area. He found the footsteps where the assailant waited for him, and when he looked ahead, he noticed a trail. He followed it for sometime before a realization dawned on him: The Golden Demon was following him for at least a mile before attacking.

He made his way back to the clearing and noticed the blood that littered the ground. His blood. He knelt down on the dirt and surveyed the blood sprays before standing up and inspecting the sprays on the tree. His suspicion was confirmed: The Golden Demon was ambidextrous. Not many people have that quality. The vitals, the way he attacked Shen in Jyom Pass, and even himself, told Zed that this... person was skilled in human anatomy. So a medic of some sort who can use both hands with equal skill.

Shen would be able to help him, even Master Kusho, but he didn't want their help. He wanted to do this alone. Then he would get his father's praise.

Since he would not relay this information to others because of his stubbornness and pride, many more innocents would die because Shen, Master Kusho, the Wuju and demon hunters were missing pieces to the puzzle that may have helped them find The Golden Demon faster.


"Why did you leave?! I thought you wanted to protect me?" Marisol sneered, "I reminded you of your brother in years past, so you swore to protect me! NOW LOOK AT ME!"

She metaphorically stabbed Shen.

"You're a failure, a good for nothing. That's why your father brought Zed. He didn't think you were fit enough to be the next leader of the Kinkou."

Now she was twisting the knife.

"I wonder how your father feels having you be one of the most renowned births in Ionia, maybe even Runeterra, and people spewing prophecies that you would exceed your father... Only to get an empty, pitiful shell of Master Kusho. You're a joke, Shen."

Shen collapsed on the floor, his hands grasped his head as his fingers laced into his hair.

"We don't need you!"

"Failure... failure... failure..." The voices chanted in the black expanse.

Shen shot up, his breaths ragged as he surveyed the room. It was just a dream. His doubt and insecurities taking on the form of Marisol. Why was his conscience so cruel? He ran a hand through his sweat-matted dark hair and attempted to calm his breathing.

He didn't like working alone; there was safety in numbers, but these were his father's orders. He had to follow it like the good student he wanted to be. The people of Ionia relished in his birth like some sort of prophecy. He wasn't a fan of his future when he was a child. He wanted to be like every other kid and just run around playing. A hiccup left his lips as Shen did his best to stop the tears from falling.

'Failure.'

'Good for nothing.'

'We don't need you!'

Those sentences kept repeating in Shen's head. He needed to get out, to get away.

All Shen remembered was running. He didn't know where, but his body did; he arrived at Marisol's grave and gently reached out, fingering the rough stone. Tears again threatened to spill over, and he allowed the dam to break. The moonlight was dim as it shone down on Runeterra. Even the stars were faint. It's almost as if they were mourning with the Kinkou.


A shivering boy covered in rags sat in the cold. He rubbed his small hands against his upper arms hoping to keep himself warm. Splashes of water were heard as feet ran through the puddles and past the homeless child.

"I'm not going home! I don't want to be like you!"

Crimson eyes looked up to see a figure, barely bigger than himself, run away. He was surprised to see three adults not able to keep up with the other boy. Only one of the adults, however, stopped at the sight of the huddled up child.

Zed's clothes could barely register as such. They were littered with holes and tears. Rain dripped from his dark locks and ran down his cheeks. It made him look like he was crying, but he wasn't. His face was proud, and his eyes were hard as they met the electric-purple eyes of the adult who stopped. Those purple eyes were mesmerizing and Zed felt drawn to them.

The adult knelt down and rested his forearms on his knees as he balanced himself on the balls of his toes. "Poor thing." Zed noticed the way his long, blood-red hair fell over his shoulders. "Do you want to come with me? I can give you a bed, a room, and comfort." Master Kusho sensed the power and destiny this young child had. He had potential. The spirits whispered. Some were excited, some scorned the child, and others were hesitant.

"Why?" Zed narrowed his eyes into a glare. He didn't trust this man.

Master Kusho noticed this. Zed was hesitant, whereas Shen was careless. He was suspicious, Shen was naive. The two would be a great pair together. Maybe this boy would help Shen, be his competition, and maybe this boy will grow in his own way to live up to the future The Eye of Twilight felt from him. The spirits hummed in agreement. This boy was important for Ionia in some way. He would bring balance somehow. Sadly, Master Kusho didn't know how. The spirits were sometimes vague.

He allowed a soft smile to dance over his lips before taking a seat beside the crimson-eyed boy, ignoring the puddles and water that now soaked his clothing. "Tell me about yourself, son."

Zed furrowed his brows in confusion, the distrust slowly dissipating. No one ever cared to stop and talk to him, let alone ask about him. "My name's Zed.", he grumbled into his arms as he continued to rub his upper body to maintain the friction.

"That's a nice name.", Master Kusho hummed. He noticed the way the boy shivered, and took off his robe, leaving him in only a sleeveless shirt and baggy pants. The cold, wet winds bit into his skin, but the Kinkou Master didn't let it faze him and went about placing the robe over the freezing child. "What else can you tell me about yourself?"

The sudden feeling of warmth that danced over Zed's body made him shudder in delight. As much as he didn't like getting help, the foreign feeling of heat felt too good to pass up.

'He doesn't deny help when he needs it. At least in this regard.', Master Kusho thought, eyeing the child.

"I'm six winters."

"Oh? I have a boy about your age. He's a little older. He's eight winters. I think you would like him."

"Why's that?" Zed's eyes looked up to meet those captivating purple orbs again.

Master Kusho returned the gaze with a soft one and offered a gentle smile to the crimson-eyed, dark-haired boy. "You are like a light, my child. My son is always hiding when the spotlight is on him-he's like a shadow. A shadow cannot live without the light. One cannot exist without the other; that is balance."

"Balance?" Zed tilted his head at that. "So happiness wouldn't exist because there would be no sadness, then? Is it because you can't understand one without having the contrast of the other?", his brows furrowed as he looked down.

Master Kusho's eyes widened slightly, but he was quick to recompose himself. 'His potential is absolutely stronger than Shen's... He would make a fine student.'


Master Kusho remembered the night he brought Zed into his home. It was only because Shen had ran off that he met the bright young student. Back then, Zed was the light, Shen was the shadow. Now, Zed is the shadow, while Shen is the light. The two will always be opposites of each other. They were always polarizing. When one was hot, the other was cold, and vice versa. They would never be on the same page, but they still lived in harmony. Those two were the epitome of balance.

The Eye of Twilight was balancing the spiritual and physical world. He had to be a man who controlled his emotions, not a man who was controlled by them. His role would not let anyone live that didn't have a role in keeping balance. He took a deep breath and summoned his Spirit Blade. With it in hand, he released a soft breath of air; he wasn't human, but he wasn't a spirit. His only purpose now was to stop The Golden Demon, choose the next leader of his order, and maintain balance in both worlds.

The blade was physically light, but it was a heavy burden emotionally.

The world of men and the spirit realm had to be saved by one man who wielded one sword.

The blade glowed vehemently. Something was amiss in the spirit world.

Master Kusho knew his duty. He sat in a meditative state, spirit blade in his lap.


Unlike Zed, who had lived a life of hardships, Shen was getting his first real taste of it.

"Without sadness, there wouldn't be happiness."

Maybe that was why Zed was more in control. Maybe Zed was the right choice for The Eye of Twilight role. He had lived a life that Shen had never thought of. It gave the crimson-eyed boy more perspective.

Master Kusho did spend more time with Shen, though. Did that mean that he was playing favorites? No. Shen knew it was because he was a weaker choice than his brother. His father only praised him because he wanted Shen to build confidence in himself. Master Kusho spent more time with Shen because he wanted him to be equal with Zed.

Zed was already perfect in his own ways. He didn't need praise or extra time.

Shen envied his brother as he sat down beside Marisol's tombstone, leaning against it, running his failures through his head.

Unbeknownst to them, the world was full of ironies.


I apologize for the slow update. I had the chapter written out but due to medical/health issues I haven't been on a computer to actually upload (Wish we could upload from mobile) Again, I am sorry. Hopefully my health gets better.