Hello there! Sorry this took so long, I kept changing and tweaking things, and I'm still not sure if this is any good.


Chapter 9

Ezreal ran into the room, panting. He was slightly late, mostly because he hadn't been able to get himself out of bed. He had been dreading this moment. He was about to take a seat when he saw that Darius and Lux were both standing in front of the Head of the Tribunal, who also beckoned the explorer over. The teen sighed and willed his tired body to stand next to the woman he loved, but wasn't able to look at her.

"Shall we commence now that everyone's here?" The man in front of them asked, and got a general response of approval from the people in the room.

Looking around him, Ezreal noticed the members of the Tribunal were sitting in a U formation, so they had a clear view of his nervousness.

"Champion Luxanna Crownguard." The Head of the Trubunal started speaking after clearing his throat. "There have been rumours claiming that Ethanial is actually the son of General Darius. What do you have to say to this?"

"Ethanial is indeed the son of Darius." Lux stated, her voice unwavering. Ezreal would've felt a blow to the gut if he hadn't known this information already. He was mildly surprised at how calmed she seemed with the situation.

"You have a daughter, Candella. Mind telling us who her father is?"

"She is Ezreal's, sir."

"I see. Well, aside from whatever deal you three have, you must know what situation you are in. The world already knows about the scandalous act of the Demacian who had a Noxian child by her own free will. It is by free will, yes?" The Head of the Tribunal lifted an eyebrow, as if he was hoping she would admit to a rape and wouldn't have to punish them, or whatever he had in mind.

"It is." Lux answered, still looking deeply into the man's eyes.

He sighed, tired.

"We are in quite a bind, you see. We don't want to expel any of you. We think you don't need to be expelled, but the people are asking for answers, for some form of action."

"With all due respect" Darius interrupted, forcing everyone to look at him, except for maybe an upset blond. "I don't think any form of action needs to be taken. We haven't done anything wrong, and even if we had, it's not something the Tribunal has any control over."

"So you want us to pretend like nothing's happened?" The Head of the Tribunal raised his voice, outraged. "The whole world is upset!"

"So let them be." The General growled. "Who cares?"

"We care! I care! You should care. Have you forgotten that thanks to them you have this career? Those people feed you!"

"I think you're looking at this in the wrong light." Darius continued "The more they talk about us, the more popular we become, right?"

The Head of the Tribunal fell silent for a while, before slowly speaking.

"But it's not necessarily good publicity."

"Well, how about this, then?" The General's green eyes gleamed. "How about a distraction?"


Ezreal whined in frustration. He couldn't believe the outcome of the trial. Sure, he was happy he hadn't been expelled or something like that, but he couldn't believe those two had gotten away with it. He wasn't sure what he'd expected, and, after hearing Darius's words, he had realised that the Tribunal couldn't ban or punish their love. In fact, no one could, and that was possibly what had the explorer in such a grump.

Not only that, but the two love birds had gotten the privilege to live together along with Ethanial. When he'd complained about it he'd been totally ignored, but at least he could still keep the old apartment. The one he'd lived in with Lux and the kids for so many years. He was currently there, on the sofa, staring at the walls, upset and dumbfounded. He couldn't believe his luck, and his mind kept thinking how lonely he felt in that house. At least he'd been allowed to live with Candella, but she was currently playing with Nami in her pool.

The blond let out a loud wail, running his hands through his hair and tugging on it tightly. He shut his eyes and clenched his teeth as he tried his best to stop himself for screaming in pain.

So he decided on doing what looked like the least stupid thing he could do at that moment and headed to the bar.


He was alone in the training room. Ethanial smiled slightly as he prepared his body for what was about to come. He closed his eyes and sighed, relaxing. When he felt calm enough, he opened his palm and willed an orb of light to appear. He had little hope of it actually working, with the amulet broken, but he had to try it anyway.

He almost screamed when he saw the light appear in the palm of his hand. Ecstatic, he made it disappear, only to force the light sword out. He wielded it, tears of joy springing to his eyes.

He would be the most powerful champion in the League. He had magic and was good at fighting. He would, one day, battle LeBlanc and win. That would be his revenge.


The preparations for the distraction started immediately. The tailors and seamstresses began to work on a set of clothes, while the Tribunal released the backstory and pictures, everything being kept a secret from Ethanial.

It wouldn't take much longer for the show to start.


A few days later

Darius was watching Ezreal as the explorer came out of the match he'd just won. He high-fived Taric and congratulated the rest of the team. The Noxian was staring with a stern look on his face, trying to see if he could notice anything abnormal in the blonde's behaviour.

"He isn't doing alright." Katarina hummed, looking at her nails, distracted. The General hadn't seen her approach him, but hid the surprise well enough, turning his head slowly to look at her and waiting until their gazes met to talk.

"Care to elaborate?"

She pushed herself off from the wall she'd been leaning on and started walking, knowing that he would follow her without complaint.

"He's on the rebound, I guess?" She stated, her tone of voice questioning his actions. "Tried to get me to have sex with him."

"He's trying to get revenge?" Darius answered, unsure.

"No, I don't think it's that. He clearly stated he hated me and just wanted angry sex." She turned a corner briskly and sighed. "He spends day and night at the bar getting drunk and trying to pick up on women. You wanted me to keep an eye on him, right?"

He didn't say anything. He didn't want to admit that he was worried for the explorer and had hid it behind the pretence that he was doing it for Lux, but he was pretty sure Katarina had seen through him.

"So, anyway, as I was saying. He's trying to get into anyone's pants."

"Are you trying to tell me something? I'm failing to understand your point. He's a grown man. He's had his love problems. He might just need to vent a bit and that will be it."

"It's not that, Darius." Katarina sighed. "My point is he's trying to harm himself."

"I'm having a hard time believing this." The man answered.

"And there I was thinking you were the smart one." She sighed and stopped walking to look into his eyes. "This is his way of hurting himself. Throwing his body to whoever will take it. Acting thoughtlessly and carelessly. It's obviously his way of asking for help."

"I will reconsider then." Darius muttered hesitantly, clenching his teeth. "Anything else?"

"I heard about the outcome of the trail. Congratulations, I guess?" She shrugged her shoulders. "Not like I really care."

"I figured." He muttered, bored with the conversation already. Curiosity getting the better of him, he asked "So… are you going to have sex with Ezreal?"

"Mmmm, how should I put this?" Katarina tapped her cheek with her finger. "I'd rather bear Garen a child."

"He'd be thrilled."

"Droll." She spat, sarcastically. "I'll leave you to keep spying on your little sweetheart you are so desperate to protect."

"Look who's being hilarious now."

"It's not just now. I always am." She smirked, throwing her hair over her shoulder before walking away, a smug grin on her face.


"You've a visitor, sweetie." Lux called to her son, knocking on the door of what was now his room, in their new apartment. The teenager thanked his mother as he went to see who it was.

"Ekko?" Ethanial lazily walked over to where his friend was casually leaning on the wall.

"Yo." The other greeted, a cheeky grin spreading on his face. "Wanna go somewhere?"

"Sure." The younger muttered, frowning slightly as he looked at Darius, maybe asking for approval on going out. The Noxian grunted and turned around, his way of saying that his son could do as he pleased. Relieved, Ethanial put a jacket on and left the apartment, happy that he had a solid excuse to be away from that place.

"So, anywhere in mind?" He asked as Ekko lead him through the gardens, getting into a wilderness he'd never seen before.

"Isn't this place cool?" The other laughed when they got to a clearing. "All of these plants are Zyra's!"

"Sure, whatever."

"You look down." Ekko muttered gently, a soft look on his face as he watched the grouchy boy sit down on the grass. "So I brought something."

He removed the schoolbag that he'd been carrying and got out an unmarked bottle, placing it in front of the other, a sly smirk on his face.

"What is this?" Ethanial's brow creased.

"Rum." He answered as he sat down in front of the other.

"Rum? Where'd you…!? How'd you…!? How did you get this?"

"Miss Fortune. You know she owns the bar, right? She sometimes sneaks things to me. We have an… understanding."

"What kind of understanding? What are you doing?" Ethanial looked at the other, suspicious.

"Relax, it's not what you're thinking. I just pay her. She looks over the fact that I'm underage."

"Why?"

"Because I'll never be 18 and I'll never be able to have a drink. So I convinced her."

"With money, I suppose."

"Exactly!" Ekko tapped his nose as he smiled at his friend. "Anyway, drink up."

"Wait… Jinx is also 17… is she getting any alcohol?"

"Are you kidding!? She's a psycho sober, do you ever wanna see her drunk!?"

"Why make an exception for you?"

"'Cause I'm the time boy. Now shut up and drink up."

Ethanial hesitantly grabbed the bottle and took the cap off. He pressed it lightly against his lips and, closing his eyes, tipped it gently so some of the liquid entered his mouth. He eagerly had a few gulps before scrunching his nose and moving the bottle away from him. He fought back coughs as the rum burnt down his throat, a bitter taste left in his mouth.

"How was your first time?" Ekko giggled, grabbing the bottle from him and giving it a few chugs.

"I don't know…" He honestly couldn't tell if he liked the sensation or not. It seemed like it tasted disgusting but he kind of wanted more. The other noticed and gave him the rum back.

"How're you dealing with all of this?" Ekko muttered, rummaging into his bag and grabbing a packet of cigarettes. He placed one into his mouth, lit it and inhaled, closing his eyes as he did.

"Are you smoking!?" Ethanial hissed at him after he'd taken another sip of rum.

"Yeah, what of it? I'm just trying out new things. Nothing wrong with that."

"Miss Fortune again?"

"Yeah, they were on offer. Want one?"

"Ugh, no, that's seriously disgusting."

Ekko grinned and blew smoke into the other's face, forcing the other to cough and push the assassin away in a playful way.

"You jerk!"

"Look who's speaking! Answer me already. Stop dodging my questions."

"It's awful. I feel really stupid for having unravelled the truth. I feel even worse for letting LeBlanc trick me."

"Happens to anyone. Don't beat yourself up for it."

"If I were you I'd just turn back time and… wait, Ekko, could you…?" He was cut off by the other, who was frowning at him.

"No, I can't do it and I won't. You need to take responsibility for the consequences of your actions."

"You're letting a fifteen year old drink." Ethanial responded with a deadpan look.

"Yeah, well, I'm only seventeen myself." He stuck his tongue out. "Plus, I think you need it."

"How do I need it?"

"I've been drunk before. It makes you feel good. I want you to feel good."

"If I drink this, I'll feel good?"

"Ah-huh." Ekko muttered, giving the cigarette a last drag before throwing it away.

They were silent for a while. They took turns to take swigs out of the bottle, passing it to each other.

"I hate how things turned out." Ethanial grumbled, unhappy.

"I hate that things had to be this way." Ekko muttered, laying on the ground and gazing at the stars in the sky.

"Hey…" The younger one mumbled, waiting as the other got up to look at him. "You don't care that I'm half Noxian?"

"You never cared that I was from Zaun. They're both pretty fucked up places, if you ask me." Ekko shrugged, but smiled honestly at his friend.

"It's just that everyone's been treating me differently since they found out who my real father is and I hate it!" Taking a few long sips from the bottle, his fists clenched and he felt like sobbing. "Garen doesn't even want to speak to me anymore. Everyone from Demacia is acting cold towards me. You're like, the only person that hasn't changed their attitude towards me."

"And why would I, Ethanial? You're still you."

"Adults are stupid."

"They sure are."

They were silent again as they looked at the stars. Ethanial felt a warm buzz in his stomach as he kept drinking. He felt a little dizzy and he couldn't quite understand what was going on with him.

"What's it like having Darius as your father?" Ekko asked, sitting up again.

"Honestly, he doesn't feel like my father. I never wanted him to be."

"But you liked him when he was training you."

"Yeah, but that was different! I thought Ezreal was my father and I looked up to both of them, but knowing that Lux and Darius deceived Ezreal… it bothers me sooo much."

"Why?"

"It's like… I still see Ezreal as a parent. I think he'll always stay that way in my mind. He might not be my biological father but he was there all my childhood."

Ethanial reached for the bottle but Ekko stopped him.

"I think you've had enough."

"No! Give me more!" He growled, and the assassin eventually gave in, sighing. In their playful struggle, Ekko caught a glimpse of gold against the other's skin.

"Hey… what's… that?" The Boy Who Shattered Time whispered, his fingers outstretching to try to touch it.

"No!" Ethanial whimpered, moving away from the other and hiding the amulet from Ekko's view. "You can't touch it."

"Wh-Why not?"

"It'll burn you." The boy whispered, hesitantly showing it to the assassin. "It's some pretty dark magic. Look, it's stuck to my skin. I can't do anything to remove it."

"What do you mean it'll burn me!? Let me touch it, I can help."

"No, you can't! Lux burnt her fingers trying to get it off. It just sinks deeper into my skin if anyone but me touches it."

"That's ridiculous."

"It gave me powers, too. Apparently they are deep inside me and it only helps me bring them out, but I know myself that I have less magic in me than…" He struggled to look for a metaphor as he waved his hands in front of him. "Look, just trust me."

"Show me. Show me what you can do."

"Alright." Ethanial sighed, giving in. He raised his right hand and an orb of light appeared. He made it really bright before dimming it down until it stopped glowing all together. He materialized his trustworthy light sword and swung it around, showing it off. Ekko slowly traced his finger around the edges of the weapon.

"Oh, wow, it's sharp. How can you do this!?"

"I can't without the amulet. Told you."

"Yeah, I remember watching you train and you couldn't even conjure that light orb you did before. Dark magic, huh?"

"Yeah, it's pretty powerful."

"Aren't you scared?"

"Scared? Why should I be?"

"Well, it is dark magic. And it seems to be attached to you to the point you can't get it off. I mean, don't you think it's dangerous?"

"I… I hadn't thought of that, actually." He paused to continue drinking.

"What are you going to do?" Ekko asked quietly, biting his lip.

"I don't know… Is there anything I can do?"

"You could talk to LeBlanc… she's the one that gave it to you, right?"

"Yeah, but she's in prison. How do you know about that? Well, actually, how much do you know about what happened?"

"Not much."

"Okay, I'll tell you everything."

Ethanial began to narrate what had happened, and by the time he'd finished, he felt weird. He tried to get up but his head was spinning and he couldn't control it.

"I don't feel too well…" He muttered as he staggered. Ekko caught him just in time, looking at him with a worried expression on his face.

"Ethanial…?"

"Gods, everything is just… spinning…" He slurred.

"Well, time to take you home."


Ekko kicked the door with his foot, grunting as he held onto his drunk friend. He was using all his upper body strength to keep Ethanial on his back. He was getting annoyed as no one seemed to be answering the door.

'I should've just taken him to my place.' He thought to himself just as he heard a creak and Darius loomed over him, grunting something.

"Hey!" Ekko smiled, handing the nearly unconscious boy over to the Noxian. "I came to deliver this."

"You got him drunk?" Darius scowled at him, forcing the boy to take a step back, threatened.

"No, he was like that when I found him." He managed to blurt out, showing off a cocky smile as he finished the sentence.

"He went off with you."

"A bit late to be playing the father figure, huh?" Ekko smirked, forcing an even larger scowl from the other.

"You're both minors. Don't act like you know what you're doing."

"He's old enough to decide what he does, don't you think?"

"But not old enough to drink. He's still got some growing to do."

"You know better than anyone that he's not going to be doing that anymore. Let him have some fun."

"This is fun to you? Bringing him this intoxicated?"

"Fun is trying new things. Being a kid while he still has a chance."


"Ethanial, wake up." Darius was leaning on the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest when the boy opened his eyes.

"Uh?" He tried to say something but could only blink. His mouth tasted funny and he was feeling weird. He didn't remember how he got home the previous night.

"Get up. You've got an interview."

"Interview? What?" The teenager croaked, after he managed to pull his body to a sitting position on his bed.

"You're entering the League."

"What!? When!?" Ethanial suddenly woke up, his sleepiness wearing off.

"That's what they'll be telling you today." The man was about to go when he turned around to look at his son and frowned. After a small silence, he walked up to him and sat on his bed. "You were very drunk last night."

"I… was?" He didn't know what to say really. He couldn't remember much and he was pretty embarrassed about the fact that Darius had brought it up.

"I'm disappointed."

His eyes widened when he heard that. Something inside of him clicked, but he wasn't sure what. He looked down at his hands, suddenly feeling sick.

"But…" The General continued. "It also made me think. I've always wanted a son. And I wanted him to come of age and have a drink together with him. Last night reminded me that I will never be able to do that."

Ethanial finally gathered the courage to look at his father in the eye. He swallowed nervously as they stared at each other.

"I'm not telling Lux, be thankful."

"Yeah, thanks." The boy rubbed the back of his head, thinking what could happen if his mother found out about yesterday. He honestly didn't want to know.

"I'll give you a lecture about alcohol. And any other adult topic I think you should know about. But not now. Get ready."

'Adult topic?' The teenager had a pretty good idea what that would be about. He groaned, watching the man heave himself off his bed.

"Anyway, give it your all." And with that, Darius left the room.


Ethanial looked stunning in the new clothes the League had prepared for him. He had two suits – dark and light they were called – and now he was wearing a black shirt and matching trousers that clung to his figure, part of the former attire. His boots were also dark and brand new. He'd combed his hair back and was sporting a crooked half smile.

"I don't want to be here" Ezreal huffed, mostly to himself, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked away, annoyed and embarrassed, wishing it would all end soon. He'd been forced to attend the interview, and even if he was proud of the boy, he still wasn't in the mood to speak to Lux, who, by the way, hadn't even bothered to ask how he was, which was making his blood boil. Uses him, fucks him, then forgets him, that's all that was on his mind as he silently watch her fawn over her child.

"Go on, kid, show us what you've got." The man speaking was an important part of the Tribunal, Ethanial was sure of that, but he didn't know who he was. He was barking orders to an assistant with a clipboard, who was writing everything down.

The fifteen year old nodded his head, and a magical light sword formed in the palm of his hand. He swung it expertly, showing off the skills he'd acquired under Darius's training.

The assistant hummed in approval, taking notes of everything he saw. Lux clapped her hands in excitement, watching her son perform so wonderfully.

The sword disappeared into his palm again, and this time, Ethanial produced a total of three light daggers, which he threw to the sides, all lodging themselves perfectly in the practice dummies around them.

"How's your magic?" The man asked, cocking his head to the side, expectant.

Ethanial shot out various light bolts from the palm of his hand and the League people looked content.

"Perfect. You'll be 'The Light's Child'. Oh, and by the way, your entrance is the most expected ever in the history of the League."

"It is?" He grinned, clutching more light daggers he'd conjured up.

"Yes. In fact, all of your popularities have increased tremendously." All thanks to the distraction campaign they'd come up with, but of course he wasn't going to tell them that.

Ezreal turned to face him, his brow frowning.

"Darius and Lux are seen as the new Romeo and Juliet, a love story that actually worked. Everyone is thrilled. And everyone just adores their cute love child. And let's not forget poor broken-hearted Ezreal here. All the girls out there want to comfort him."

"What?" The explorer said, his mouth dropping open. His arms slowly unfolded from his chest. "Really?"

"Oh yeah, every woman out there wants to mend your broken heart. They adore your fatherly love for Ethanial, as well. You're really popular right now."

"I am?" Ezreal smirked smugly. "Heh, good to know." Finally something good had happened to him.

"Anyway" The man spoke to the boy again. "Let's go over your abilities."

After the speech, they left Ethanial to practise. He'd been told the rules so many times he was sure he could spurt them out effortlessly, like a parrot blurting out the lines it knew. The boy was a fighter, and a hybrid, which meant he could use both ability power items and attack damage. His lanes were primarily top and mid, but he'd already been warned that those weren't necessarily the roles he'd end up playing, so he needed to learn everything there was to learn. He could blind his opponent, throw daggers a reasonably good distance and even throw light orbs, but he had his trustworthy sword for basic attacks.

His first match would be the next day, and he was all too eager to play it. Despite the small fact that he was feeling a little hung-over, he spent the entire day practising, wanting to do his very best.


He'd already packed their bags. Well, bag. One each, they didn't need much for an adventure. She was going to learn how to do it his style. All that he needed was permission. And he was going to go the Darius way about it.

After mulling it over for a while, he'd decided that he'd hit rock bottom and that the only way of changing his current situation was to leave for a bit, to clear his mind. All those years locked up in the Institute couldn't have been good for him. He was an explorer, they couldn't keep him cooped up eternally, it was bad for him. He needed to be free, to see the world, to live, to regain the passion he'd lost after all that had just happened to him.

So he knocked on the door of the Head of the Tribunal's office and barged in, not caring what he was interrupting, if anything.

"Ezreal." The man spoke, an eyebrow raised. "Is there a problem?"

"I want a vacation."

"As a League Champion you should know no such thing exists here."

"Ok, I want a sick leave or something."

"You're not sick."

"Heartbroken is a type of sick." Ezreal pleaded, but there was a note of amusement in his tone. "Ok, I'll be frank. I can't deal with the situation right now. I was hoping you'd understand. My whole life's been flipped upside down and the girl I wanted to marry has left me for a filthy Noxian. I think I deserve some sort of time to get over this."

"Some people get over things like that by working." The Head of the Tribunal suggested, shrugging his shoulders. The explorer was annoyed. He couldn't believe he was being given such a hard time when all it took Darius was a glimmer in his eyes to get what he wanted. Maybe it was their difference in size. He rejected the idea. He was not going to let that… man… win, not even at this.

"Either I am allowed to leave the Institute without any further consequences or I will not let Candella join the League." Ezreal's tone became menacing as he stared at the man in front of him. "Let me inform you that she's an excellent healer by the way. Cured Lux's second degree burns in half a minute. Valuable asset to your lacking support team."

The Head of the Tribunal's mouth opened wide as he heard those words. He swallowed, nervously.

"I guess you could be gone for… a week?" He whispered, nervous.

"Two. And Candella's coming with me. There's no need for her here, right?" He smirked at him, smug about the fact that he'd gotten what he wanted.

"Alright, two. Starting tomorrow."

"I can work with that. Well, see ya. If I ever get back!" Ezreal laughed as he turned around, walking briskly out. "You never know with explorers, if they'll make it back home safely."