(Quick author note, chapters are not necessarily in chronological order)
Within the dark depths of the Twisted Treeline two sets of three champions were pinned against each other. Riven, Varus and Katarina versus Quinn, Talon and Singed. Their Nexus springs to life as a blue glow illuminates from the giant crystal. The three champions just arriving at their fountain. Starting with eight-hundred and fifty gold, they purchase what they need. Surely the same sequence of events transpired on the opposing team, their Nexus a bright red color. Standing within the blue fountain Riven found herself teamed up with one of her rivals Varus, both stood there eyes glaring seemingly into each other's soul. Varus wanting revenge for his village, the one that was destroyed by an army led by her. The silent tension was thick like molasses and was only broken by the all too familiar voice of a summoner.
"Welcome to the Twisted Treeline" the voice echoed through the dense foliage of the arena.
"Come on you two, we have duties to attain to. I will take the south path with Riven and Varus will go north. Now let's go." Katarina groaned as the quick footed assassin heads down to the bottom lane of the Institute's domain.
An almost perfect reflection of interactions happen on the other side of the map as Talon and Quinn seem to have locked eyes, the disliking for each other burning within their minds. However no words were spoken by Singed to break the silence. Talon simply headed to the top lane while SInged and Quinn went in the other direction.
Talon sighed as he realized the closest thing he had to a friend was on the opposing team, he looked ahead to see that Varus would be his lane opponent. Talon keeps a blank expression as he maps out the different possibilities of killing the enemy combatant.
Within the bottom side of the arena Riven smirked, one of her opponents being Singed, the creator of the poison that killed her fellow Noxians along with the enemy Ionians. She had wanted for a long time to kill Singed, even though within this arena the summoner's magic would just revive him no matter how many times she would kill him. She would still feel a little bit better about her current situation.
"Minions have spawned"
The games have begun, although the battles on the Twisted Treeline were not that long, they can be quite intense. Arrows were shot, blades were drawn and poisonous gas filled the air. Soon enough there were two who stood, both missing a concerning amount of health. RIven and Talon, both within a defensive position waiting for a perfect opportunity to strike. Riven lunged forward with her half sword, he barely managed to dodge before throwing blades at her. She raised her sword to deflect them, both being great warriors produced by Noxus. The go head to head to deal just one hit. Just one attack would be enough to make the other fall. Riven jumping forward , her heavy sword in the air almost catching Talon head on before one perfectly aimed knife gets plunged into her abdomen causing her to fall before making contact. Just when he thought he won heat surged over his body. The bright red, orange and yellow filled his sight as the flames licked over his body.
"Ignite" he hisses through his last breath before the flames completely engulfed him.
"Impressive opponent" the thought came to mind before everything went black.
Who won in the end of the matchup within the Twisted Treeline doesn't matter, a drop of curiosity filled two champions minds. They sought each other out after the battle in the arena.
"I want a rematch" Riven stood before Talon, her green runic sword over her shoulder.
"Accepted" He said without missing a beat, heading towards the training rooms.
An empty room with a straw mat lay before them as they closed the door and raised their weapons before charging at each other. The weight and size of Riven's sword swiped at him and left a hefty wound on Talon's shoulder. However Riven's success was short lived as his blades as if alive shredded up her arm, causing it to be almost useless. The sound of metals clashing against each other rang through the room, filling the air like a thick fog on dark night.
"Why did you exile yourself?" Talon asked much to both of their surprise. His question like a gust of wind blowing away some of the thick mist.
Still sparing, their movements almost in sync with each other, as each deal blow after blow "You remember the great invasion of Ionia?" Talon nodded.
"I was one of the people leading the troops into battle and a thrilling fight it was. However we got caught out and became surrounded by the enemy."
Riven examined the body language and facial features of Talon and concluded he was still listening, waiting for her to continue.
"I sent a message requesting backup and instead of sending more soldiers they sent a deadly gas of Singed's creation. My allies fell along with the enemy. If I stayed I too would be with the fallen but I was able to escape."
"..."
"Noxus is my pride but the way they handled the situation was despicable. So I exiled myself hoping to return Noxus to it's pure state. To the future we envisioned."
"So similar" he said penetrating his blade deep into her abdomen.
Riven hissed in pain as she swung her sword connecting with Talon's leg.
"W-what do you mean" she panted as she held the bleeding wound.
"In essence, you were a part of the Noxian military, betrayed and then exiled. I on the other hand was basically exiled as I grew up under Noxus' underground passageways, stealing to survive. Betrayed by the city I grew up in for they sent several assassins to try kill me, all with no avail. Only one was able to disarm me, General Du Couteau."
Riven nodded, both had long forgotten about their sparring.
"He gave me a choice, die or work for him and live. I chose life. So then and now work for the Noxian military."
"I see what you mean by similar." Riven spoke sitting down.
"Sequence of events almost parallel but are reversed." He walked over and took a med kit off of the wall and began to bandage Riven. She groans softly as he pours water over the laceration. He looks up realizing what he is doing, he is not a medic, he is a killer and yet here he is attempting to heal an opponent. His face a mere inch away from her own.
"Here let me…" she begins to wrap the gashes on his skin. Both are silent for awhile as they simply sit there not knowing what to say.
"Let's spar again." Talon states flatly.
"Tomorrow same time?" She asks and he simply nods.
Talon is not one who often speaks and when he does it is very brief, he never really opened up to anyone. He was always by himself but this woman intrigued him.
"Perhaps we can converse again." He said.
Riven gives a sly smile before picking up her sword and heading out the door.