Unlikely friend
In tandem with Lulu's arrival to Demacia, Vladimir ran into an acquaintance himself.
Characters: Vladimir the Hemomancer, Varus the Arrow of Retribution.
"Thank you for taking me here," Lulu laughed, looking at him one last time before stalking off to her friend "I'll come by next month. In the mean time, stay safe, 'kay?"
The blood mage laughed. Of all the people in the world…
"I'll miss you, little devil. But run along now. I don't think you should keep her waiting."
With a last tip of the hat, the yordle bowed and left. Vladimir himself began heading in the opposite direction. No more nice, quirky companion to talk too – that was just great.
He paused after a while, his senses alert to a familiar sensation. Yes, he'd felt this before. Subconsciously, he reached out to his magic.
It still responded. Good.
The presence did not seem willing to make a move. Vladimir sighed. He let his magic concentration loose and began striding again.
"Varus," he spoke, his tone flat. The mage's step did not falter.
He could hear an arrow being drawn in the dark.
"Let us quit the usual formalities, shall we?" Vlad offered, still walking on "what are you doing in Demacia?"
The tall man sidestepped in time to dodge one red arrow. Its power was weak, uncharged, which he took as greeting from the other man.
He looked back to the place the arrow was allegedly shot from. Varus's arrows pierce, therefore it was not that hard.
Varus's silhouette loomed, only his eyes slightly glowed in the night.
Vladimir turned to look at the tree where the arrow had hit. It had begun to wither.
"Careful with that arrow of yours," Vladimir gestured "despite how it looks, it does nasty stuffs."
"Vladimir," the archer stated. His voice still retained human-like qualities, yet had an alien ring to it. "I can ask you the same."
"I came to say goodbye to my friend," said Vladimir "mostly to ensure that she'd arrive at the location as soon as possible."
He could feel a brief smirk
"Yeah, she's a handful," there was almost a playful edge to his statement.
"You've met her?" said Vladimir conversationally.
"Of course. I do suspect that everyone seems to have run into her at some point."
"True, almost for me," Vlad answered, for he doubted Lulu was really "acquainted" with LeBlanc "she must have tried to befriend you as well."
"Of course, she was always vibrant, full of energy. She always insisted on my 'cheering up', saying that the dark thing is unhealthy for me. There was one time she seemed sad, that was when she knew who I was. She said…"
"I know that you've suffered, and I am truly sorry, but this world has too many wonders for anyone to turn their back to it."
He could feel Varus's astonishment.
"She… told you?"
"Yeah, as I said, we're friends."
"The likes of you?" Varus asked harshly.
It wasn't meant to be an insult, it was the truth. Both of them knew it.
"Aren't we all murderers, Varus?"
The Corruption Bearer stayed silent
"You should not have… done that," said he slowly "she's too pure."
Vladimir shook his head
"You're looking at her like she's oblivious to the outside world. Do you think she has no idea what truly is happening around her?"
A brief pause…
"Does she?"
"Yes. She knows. She just processes it a bit differently. And she always makes the effort of being friendly and caring despite such knowledge. That is why I treasure her friendship – I can always trust her."
There was a small thud, and Varus landed down in front of him. The Corruption encased the man, its tendrils wavered about, yet unable to escape the man's body. Vladimir regarded it with a pique of interest before eventually looking at Varus again.
"You seem well enough," he offered.
"Apparently," Varus replied.
Indeed, though he now looked more and more inhuman, a warrior's proud and noble statue was still perceivable, and Vladimir almost felt sorry for the man. But he knew it was neither needed nor his business. He couldn't judge.
"I sometimes wonder how you could have been a homicidal blood mage, despite being quite likable."
"Are you too implying I am a likeable character?"
"Yes. The fact that you befriended Lulu should speak as much."
"I'm flattered," Vladimir smirked.
"And annoying too, if I may add."
"Elise said as much."
Varus gave a brief smile.
"Shall we continue our walk?"
"Sure. The border is just around the corner."
They kept on walking through the dark woods. The cold of the night didn't bother them the slightest.
"The forest…" the archer began. Vladimir realized he was offering an answer to the former's question "it keeps my head clear."
"Ionia doesn't help?"
"Ionia is… sometimes too much."
"I see."
"I am a hunter, Vladimir, being in a forest helps me gain a sense of control. The border woods work well for that. I come here when issues arise. Ionia is… sometimes it's too sacred for my presence, sometimes it will only make my… condition worse."
The blood mage nodded. He could not claim sympathy. He'd never lost much. At least, he'd never lost anything that valuable… since he had none.
"The darkness and the silence often help," Varus continued "and when I see the lights of Demacia, I can be reminded of humanity… of the reason I am doing this."
The man determination burned, it was hard to look at. Great characters do indeed come from tragedies.
"Do you remember the first time we met?" asked Varus.
"Oh yeah, why not? I do swear never to step a foot outside Noxus again," said Vladimir sheepishly "I seem to attract all sorts of sacred entities' attention along the way."
Varus gave him a pointed look.
"I would hardly consider this sacred."
"Well, yeah, but it is still supernatural. I'm sure at some point it was considered sacred as well."
"I doubt it."
Ah, the infamous Ionian humorlessness strikes again.
"To each their own. Yes, I remember our first meeting. You were intent on having me lay dead," Vladimir smirked "I can't blame you. Many want to do that."
"Because you are Noxian… you are the subject of my vengeance."
"Varus… your hate for Noxians, is it…?"
"It is. It can't be done. I can't let it go."
Vladimir only nodded
"However it gets difficult," the archer continued "when you begin to look at it closer. Humans do not like to stay ignorant long; however pleasant the feeling. Back then, I accepted this to exact revenge upon Noxus, for having destroyed everything I had. But in doing so, I ceased to regard Noxians as… people…"
"You do not care about how your enemy feels. To you, they don't feel."
"But they do. And when you begin to see it, you can't seem to do it anymore. There're no absolutes in this world – every Noxian I killed, they must each have had led a story, each must have felt, laughed, cried. And why would my cause be just, if I were to rob all of theirs away?"
Vladimir acquiesced. Sometimes ignorance could only go so far. Knowledge would hurt, but inevitable.
"If so, then what am I doing?"
"You have every right to. Our nation has wronged your people."
"It does not mean I could do that, does it?"
"Not necessarily. But if you wish for my death, I will respect that. I won't despise you. It will not mean I will accept death without a fight."
Varus laughed
"You are really strange, Vladimir. You don't seem to hate anything, which is ridiculous for a homicidal blood mage… but…"
"I kill people for enjoyment, Varus. It's not exactly the brightest character you'd look for."
"Still, you don't hate. I stand correct. You don't hate anything, while I spend the last few years of my life hating. And where does that lead? Even more burdens to bear."
The last words were spoken with bitterness.
"It's an interesting psycho-analysis, Elise would certainly agree. Now that I consider it, it is valid, to a degree." He'd lusted, he'd killed, he'd feared, but he never hated. "What does 'hate' feel like?"
"Hate… is a flame. It burns. It gives you a desperate drive. It brings power. But it does not stop. It will drain the last of your energy and sanity. It clouds your mind, turning you into a beast."
"You're lucky," said Vladimir after a moment of silence.
Varus looked at him in astonishment.
"You can feel. I cannot. I've never… had anyone who cared. I only know of blood, death, and all that follows. You had someone who loved you, so that you can hate us. The opposite of love is apathy… I've not had gentleness, warmth, companionship for a long time. To me, Varus, you are a lucky man."
"Because I have what you do not?"
"How would you define lucky otherwise?" Vladimir smiled.
Varus stared up the starry sky
"The stars are bright tonight."
"Indeed."
"If you don't have it, perhaps you will not fear losing it," said Varus quietly, lost in his thoughts "no one owns the stars, so they will never be lost to me."
"You're right."
"I want to avenge them. I desperately do. But who was supposed to be responsible? Finally, no one was truly responsible…"
The Hemomancer sighed
"You want me to pull a Lulu or a me?"
"You can choose what philosophical version you want now?" asked Varus, amusement in his tone.
"Lulu will probably tell you to look at the world and find wonders within it. But granted, it is not as easy as it sounds. So I'd probably say… it's best to… not think too hard about it sometimes. It's quite ignorant, you can say, but you don't have to try defining everything in your life. You'll fail. Then, you may be able to find some 'wonders' to yourself."
"You are becoming Lulu," Varus commented "you're changing."
Well, yeah, I noticed. You've changed too. I don't think the Varus before would want to discuss life philosophies with a Noxian homicidal blood mage."
The corrupted archer drew an arrow
"I sincerely wish you won't lose them, your wonders," he said "just, Vladimir, don't take them for granted. You'll never know when it would be the last time…"
Was it regret he'd heard?
"Thank you, Varus. I may not… deserve to say this, but… I'm sorry."
There was a frown on the archer's face, but he nodded curtly
"You are just as human as any of us, then."
The mage gave him a smirk
"I've been told it's not exactly a bad thing. I'm trying to capitalize on it."
"Until next time, Vladimir," the archer said, holding out a hand. His pale skin seemed to glow under the moonlight.
He shook Vladimir's hand firmly.
"You too,"
Varus gave him a last smile before walking off into the woods.
Vladimir smiled softly to himself as he continued walking towards Noxus.
Tonight was indeed a beautiful night.
If you don't have it, perhaps you will not fear losing it.
No one owns the stars, so they will never be lost to me.
He wondered what the man had seen in the stars, every night.
Did he see hope, comfort, or serenity?
Or was it only the admiration of its beauty?
Because it certainly felt that way to Vladimir himself.
END.
