At nightfall, Darius was addressing the beaten Noxian forces.
Talon wasn't really hearing much of anything. His brief rampage left him completely exhausted, and the pain from everything was also beginning to kick in. He sat on his bed in the large but vacant Crimson Elite tent, his hands together, his shoulders stooping. Five years ago, he came here, with twenty some other people his age. Talon could almost smell the life radiating off those ignorant brats, and it only took five years for these silly but pleasant people to become a part of the soil, like Kayvn. He was seriously starting to wonder if that was the rule of this world-that you were automatically doomed to a premature death if you were a decent human being.
Riven walked in, her arms bandaged. There's the exception, Talon thought. After a long day, the so-called manliest woman alive was about the only pleasing sight on the battlefield. She came over and sat down by Talon, drew up her legs and hugged her knees to her chest.
"So," Riven said, "You're leaving soon."
"Oh man," Talon slapped his forehead and replied sarcastically, "thanks for reminding me, I almost forgot."
Riven gave a short burst of laughter, and then sighed.
"But it's gonna be just me." She grumbled. "The last Crimson Elite."
"If you look at it that way-"
"Talon," Riven shushed, "I really hope I'm not the first person to tell you this, but you suck at making people feel better. Don't even bother"
"Flattering," Talon rolled his eyes.
"It's true." Riven slapped him, a bit sheepish.
"How are your arms?" Talon tried to shift to a less depressing subject.
"Been worse." Riven touched her bandages. "I'd bet my blade that the Irelia girl had it a lot worse than me."
Talon said nothing to that.
"But that's the big secret, isn't it?" Riven suddenly stared Talon right in the eyes. It was unsettling. "Those Ionian said something about it being from the Shadow Isles?"
"Yeah," Talon admitted. "I am not all human. I have no idea how, but it just is this way.
"Must be hard." Riven muttered. "No wonder you always act like you never belong anywhere."
"I do belong somewhere." Talon protested. "I just don't like big crowds!"
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, tough guy." Riven huffed. "But really, how does it feel, to, you know..."
"It feels like nothing." Talon rubbed his face. He wasn't really comfortable with this subject. He felt like he would never be. "It's just the knowledge that's annoying, but other than that, I don't feel monstrous or anything."
"You're not monstrous!" Riven snapped. "You're pretty fun to be around!"
"I'm the only one to be around." Talon corrected.
"At least it's you that survived everything." Riven admitted. "Again, even though you never really make it obvious that you're around, you're the best friend a Noxian can have."
Talon thought Riven hesitated on the word "friend", but he decided that he just imagined it. Riven definitely didn't treat him like a stranger-they had to be friends.
"Now that's actually flattering." Talon smirked. "Guess you do have nice things to say about me after all."
"Oh, stop it." Riven shoved him. She only moved one arm, but she almost knocked Talon down. She laughed again. "You've gotta have more strength than that!"
"Too lazy to use any of it." Talon told her. "Besides, you'll grab me if you really make me fall. You've taken arrows and blades for me before."
"At least I have some armor." Riven blushed. "You woulda died if you took any of those."
"Thanks anyways." Talon said.
"And thankful you should be."
They sat without speaking. Talon almost wished that another Ionian attack would happen, so he could get out of this awkward silence. Simply sitting there, Riven next to him, waiting for the carriage to break them up, he felt something he'd never felt for years. Powerlessness. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to make things a bit less sad. Talon could not make any move to help the situation. He was reminded of the fact that he was still socially impaired, that he could kill and sneak around, but he could never match up with General Du Couteau's skill with people, and he absolutely hated it.
"Hey," Riven poked him, "did you fall asleep?"
"No." He shuffled.
Riven stood. She stretched and cracked her knuckles.
"Then let's get out of here." Riven reached out her hand to lead Talon. Reluctantly, like a doubtful child, Talon took her hand. Five years as back-to-back partners, but he was still unused to such proximity to another human. He laughed at himself mentally.
"Where to?" Talon asked, as Riven led him away.
"I dunno," Riven shrugged, "just a walk, you know, get some fresh air."
Talon shook his head in response, but he was smiling sincerely. He didn't bother grabbing his helmet. He walked next to Riven, falling about half a step behind to show respect for her personal space, but allowed Riven to continue holding onto his hand. It was sort of the least he could do, to not ruin Riven's fragile upbeat attitude by being too reserved.
They walked among the borders of the Noxian campsite. They traveled in silence at first, but Riven managed to save the depressing walk with a playful conversation. Then, Talon seemed to learn how to speak his mind. He somehow did not screw up and say something extremely weird, so Riven was able to keep them talking for the rest of the time.
They went on for a long time, or maybe it was but a few moments. Talon had no idea-he was absorbed by the experience of talking to Riven, to a point that time, distance, and everything else ceased to matter. It was a alien sensation, like he began to see Riven in a different light somehow. She wasn't a bit different from her usual self. The red and black uniform, the headwear lost somewhere in the tent again, a bit of wound to differentiate her from a child-bearing Noxian housewife. She looked the same as she always had, but she felt different. She seemed to almost glow under the pale evening light, and Talon found himself staring, for the first time in his life. He wanted to stare more. He just wanted a bit more of, well, Riven, and nothing more. He even started to dread going back
But alas, the moon rose, and the carriage for the Crimson Elite arrived.
"I guess it's all over." Riven said as they walked toward the carriage, "you're off, everybody else is dead, it's just me now."
"I'll come back for you." Talon said, forgetting to ponder his words before he spoke them. He actually blushed. Another first.
"Then I'll wait for you." To Talon surprise, Riven grinned from ear to ear. She almost swelled upon hearing the statement that Talon considered slightly unseemly.
"So it's a deal." Talon concluded.
"A good deal." Riven gave Talon a thumb-up. "Well, have a nice trip!"
"Thank you." Talon cracked a smile. His eyes never left Riven as they made the final steps toward the carriage.
Personally, he was pleased that the goodbye was rather perfect, but Riven, greedy girl, was apparently not satisfied. As Talon was stepping into the carriage, she abruptly grabbed Talon, and pulled him infinitely close to her. Driven by some unnamed instinct, Talon complied to whatever action Riven was planning on performing. Leaning in, Talon accepted the gentle peck on the lips before he could stop himself or Riven. They remained like that for a second, the proximity comforting, soothing the two souls wounded and roughened by war. Nothing ran through Talon's mind-it was all blank, all bliss, all peaceful happiness.
Then the moment was gone. Riven drew back, her face as red as a tomato, and let pushed Talon into the carriage. Talon let it happened, too stupefied to move at all. He simply sat alone in the carriage made for at least five people, his fingers on his lips, savoring, remembering, long after Riven disappeared over the horizon.
Talon replayed the moment in his head on the entire trip. He would lock himself up in the carriage, and later, his room on the ship, and smile at the memory of kissing Riven. It felt alarmingly close to the General's dreamy, abstract depiction of romantic love, but Talon couldn't care less at that point. Riven kissed him! Life could only be rainbows and smiles from now on.
So, happier than he ever was, Talon went up to the front doors of the Du Couteau property. Routinely, he introduced himself to the guards, showed proofs to his identity. The guards let him in, but he couldn't help but notice their rather low spirit. He decided to ask Katarina when he had the chance.
"Sir Talon Du Couteau has returned!" The doorman announced as Talon entered the househould.
"Talon?" A woman's voice replied.
"Yes-"
A flurry of red flashed into Talon's view. The doorman went silent immediately.
"Talon!" Katarina yelled. She dashed over and tackled Talon with a hug. "You're not dead! You didn't even lose a limb!"
"Yeah," Talon returned the hug, "good to be back too."
Then Talon got to have a closer look at the closest thing he had to a sister, and found bags under Katarina's eyes. Moreover, her hair was messy. Now, Katarina was definitely more Riven than Cassiopeia, but she always, always kept her hair well. She considered her scarlet mane a Du Couteau symbol something passed down from the general to her.
"You alright?" Talon drew back. He held Katarina's shoulders and made her look at him. She immediately looked away, biting her lips.
"I'm absolutely fine." She said. "Cassi, though...and father left you this."
A sealed letter seemed magically appear from her hand. She handed it to Talon, and then ran off. Talon had the feeling that she was going to go cry alone in some dark corner, but her grave tone somehow made Talon prioritize the letter. And Cassi, what happened to her...
Talon opened the letter as he made his way to his old room. He tucked the envelope in his pocket, careful to not lose anything from the general. Talon unfolded the paper inside, and began to go through the writings. They did not look fresh, but they were the General's alright.
"Talon, my boy." The letter read. "I am sorry for my decision to depart on such short notice, and also at such a crucial time. However, there are forces at work that I must figure out, as soon as possible. Their business, as I was informed, hold keys to my wife's murder. Yes, she was murdered, assassinated. Isn't it ironic? The most renowned assassin in all of Noxus, having his wife assassinated. It is a grudge that only blood can resolve, and I must avenge to be complete again."
Talon swallowed. The General sounded so formal and calm, but Talon could almost taste and smell the bitter hatred under the surface. General Du Couteau, the king of assassins, out for blood after all those years. Must be a sight to behold. He opened the door to his room and opened the windows. The room was well kept, with no dust settling on the surface, so Talon
"I'm proud of you, Talon." The letter continued. "I have heard of your achievements in the army, fighting beside Riven, always taking out important members of the Ionian forces. It pains me to see you risk your life out there, but it also brings such happiness to see you finally shining, as more than my personal assassin. You're destined for a lot more than just running errands for me. You will tip the scale of our war with Demacia one day, child, never doubt that. Also, it has come to my attention that I may very well not return from my quest, and I have yet to give you anything of value. Therefore, I leave you with third of all my estates, and the set of returning blades in my study. Make me even prouder, boy, and should we meet again in the future, I will not hesitate to call you my son."
"No," Talon whispered. Then his voice began to rise. "No, no no NO NO NO!"
He slammed the paper down on the nearest hard surface. The wood cracked. He tore at his hair and roared like a injured lion.
"NO!"
He punched the wall. He felt the room shake, and heard a sickening "snap" in from his hand, but the emotions blocked out the pain. What has he returned to? A Du Couteau mansion without the General? The most important place to him, without the most important person? What purpose did he have here, serving Noxus, if the very core of his motivation was gone? The General did not even promise a return.
"WHY!" Talon screamed at the ceiling. "WHY!"
He collapsed onto his old bed. It felt as soft as before, but it did nothing to comfort him. He could now feel his hand throb, and he wished it would hurt more, so he didn't need to think about the General. He had left Riven behind, but for what? To go home, and see Katarina suffering from her father's absence, and Cassi-
Wait, what happened to Cassi?
Talon stood straight again. He remembered the other pressing matter. He must find out what happened to Cassiopeia-that girl might not have has much in common with him as Katarina, but she was every bit a sister to Talon as well. He rushed out of the room cradling his broken hand as he went to find Cassiopeia. He navigated himself toward the part of the house Cassiopeia labeled as her own.
Talon stopped in front of the grand doors of Cassiopeia's bed chamber. Two guards stood guarding the doors, stoic as statues. When they saw Talon approach, they hefted their weapons and stepped forward to intercept Talon. Talon did not have the patience for them.
"You will move if you want to live." He stated, swishing his armblade. The guards struggled to stand their ground, but a voice from within called for them to stand down.
"Let him in."
Talon was not sure who the serpentine voice belonged to, but he walked inside. Try as he might, he could not have braced himself for the person, or rather, creature, waiting in the room. Talon could barely recognize Cassiopeia from waist up-her golden hair was gone, replaced by leathery looking things Talon could not name. Her delicate, smooth skin were now a rough, scaly texture. Her hands had been turned to claws, but she still looked like the Cassiopeia Talon knew. From waste down, though, Talon wasn't very sure. She had a snake's tail, green and elegant, but completely inhuman. When she heard Talon come in, she stiffened visibly.
"Am I hideous?" Cassiopeia asked. She caressed her face with her claws.
"What, what happened to you?" Talon ran over. He grabbed her hands, and Cassiopeia sucked in a breath.
"Don't, don't come near me!" She shrieked. "I'm poisonous!"
"No, you're not." Talon told her. He remained close.
"But I, I'm not even human anymore!" Cassiopeia cover her face.
Talon was still getting over his shock of seeing Cassiopeia like this. He had no idea what kind of evil magic it would take to turn such an innocent, sweet girl into something so bizarre. Why would anyone even do this?
Talon probably let his confusion and shock show, for Cassiopeia smiled humorlessly and started to explain herself.
"I became a temptress." She said. Talon raised an eyebrow at her brusqueness. She giggled, and Talon could vaguely see why high ranking officials would open up to the girl in front of him.
"I couldn't stand being the useless one." She confessed. "I wanted to be more than just a pretty face, so I decided to use my pretty face to serve Noxus."
"What does this have to do with," Talon paused. He gestured at Cassiopeia's tail, "all this?"
"It was one of the dignitaries. He made be swear by his sword to not tell others his secrets, but I broke the oath, and I got turned into, well, 'all this'."
Talon gawked at her, unable to comprehend her tale. Cassiopeia sighed.
"I guess I got what I deserve." She twisted her tail. "I was cursed for double crossing him."
"No!" Talon yelled.
"Why?" Cassiopeia gave him a sad, sideways glance. "I am a traitor to him."
"This is too cruel!" Talon argued.
"His entire village up in Frejlord was destroyed." Cassiopeia told him, calm and collected.
Talon had nothing to say. To his horror, he realized Cassiopeia was right. Her betrayal led to his downfall, so he cursed her with the most evil thing Talon had ever seen. It was mere payback.
"There's got to be something wrong with this!" Talon rubbed his eyes, and grunted when he hurt his broken hand.
"What happened to you?" Cassiopeia slithered around in circles around Talon, examining his hand.
"Threw a tantrum." Talon muttered, "Nothing serious"
"Go get yourself a cast." Cassiopeia chided. "If you let it sit there for too long, you might have to amputate it."
"I'm different." Talon massaged his hand. "It heals on its own."
"What-" Cassiopeia tried to speak.
"Wait!" Talon interrupted. "That's it! Cassi, look at me, listen, you do not have to be upset about your curse! It's completely OK to be only partly human!"
"Um, Ok?" Cassiopeia eyed him skeptically.
"No, seriously!" Talon hit his palm with his fist. "Look at me! I'm part Shadow Isle! I'm no more human than you are now! Watch-"
Talon became invisible with the familiar pulse in the air. Cassiopeia gasped.
"You're, you're-"
"Not human, just like you." Talon finished for her. "You should be glad! Now we have something in common too!"
Cassiopeia did not reply to him for so long, Talon was beginning to feel like he said something wrong. But, before he completely lost his nerves, Cassiopeia broke into a huge, toothy smile. It warmed Talon's heart to say the least.
"So you and Kat can't just leave me behind anymore." She clasped her hands together. "How wonderful!"
"Talon? Cassi?" Katarina called from outside the door.
"Speak of the devil." Cassiopeia laughed. "Yea, sis, we're in here!"
Katarina walked in. She was fully armed.
"I'm looking forward to sparring with you again, Talon." She spun a dagger.
"Oh, I can do that too!" Cassiopeia cut in. Katarina narrowed her eyes.
"Cassi-"
"Talon just broke one of his hands in some random 'tantrum'." Cassiopeia insisted.
"Fine!" Katarina tossed her hair. "Just don't turn me into stones again!"
"No promise there," Cassiopeia giggled, "it's a risk you'll have to take."
Talon walked out. He had done his part, and it turned out quite alright. However, as he made his way to the infirmary, he couldn't help but feel lost. He thought of Cassiopeia, the General, and he wanted to yell again.
What did he return to?
So, another chapter, getting closer and closer to Talon joining the League. However, this story will be updated long after the final chapter is up. I have to edit, redo, maybe even add new chapters in between. Hope there will still be some people with the story then.