Author's Note: It has been a long struggling battle...but I am finally winning. I am not dead, though my life as I knew it was threatened in the last year. For years I had been struggling with debilitating headaches that would hospitalize me and in 2015 it forced me to drop out of college for a 2nd time. Earlier in 2016 I started to suffer short spells of complete blindness. I was sent to see a specialist and was diagnosed with a rare disease called Pseudo Tumor Cerebri. (Also known as Inter-cranial Hypertension.) My condition had gone undiagnosed for so long that by the time it was found I was at a high risk of going completely blind for the rest of my life and was immediately put on medications and had to visit my doctor monthly. With my condition and how it changed my life, at the end of 2015 and for most of 2016 I had sunk into a deep depression, one that ruined some of my most cherished friendships. The depression not only effected my social life but my personal enjoyments to. I had no motivation to write...I couldn't even play League of Legends itself... I was in a very dark place.
There are no words to express my gratitude to all of you who have been waiting patiently for me to return. No amount of I'm sorry will ever make up for my absence... but I cannot thank you all enough for sticking this out.
I may have vanished...and broke my promise...but I am better now...My condition is almost into remission. I am here... I am alive...and I am ready to continue this journey with all of you...Thank you...so much...
-Rune Shadow
Chapter 25: Ghost in the Wind
"Get up," the Captain said as she herself did just that. Irelia turned and looked down at the rather confused Noxian exile and offered her hand. "Come on, I'm not getting any younger here," she teased.
Riven continued to look befuddled as she took a hold of Irelia's hand only to be immediately pulled up to her feet. The force of the pull half took Riven off guard, causing her to nearly lose her balance. She found the strength behind it attractive, not that she needed any more reasons to swoon over her appointed caretaker more than she already has. The innocence in Irelia's face while her jade eyes looked at her only made the exile feel more mentally disorganized while she tried to collect her thoughts. Just what are you planning...? Riven thought, raising a snow white brow as she stared back at the Captain.
After a couple more moments, Irelia turned and dusted herself off, asking the exile, "your sword is in your room, right?" The Captain stretched her arms and legs as she walked towards the door that lead into the guest room. The door to the room slid open with ease and the younger woman leaned forward, head peeking in as her long ebony hair draped down to emphasize her leaning. Locks swaying, she looked around before the glow of the blade sparked in the darkened room. She smiled as her eyes fell upon the viridian rune throbbing in the dark. The blade's liveliness only meant one thing.
"What are you doing?" The curious voice of her guest asked from behind the meddling Captain. Riven's expression was firm, her fiery eyes looking down at Irelia while she loomed, strong arms crossed over her chest. "It is just a sword."
Irelia turned her attention to Riven for only a moment before turning back forward. She frowned slightly before standing up and shrugging, "I suppose mine are 'just swords' to." Irelia straightened up and stepped back around Riven, her own blades doing a little dance around the uptight exile before returning to their master's side. The gesture was entirely a tease.
Following brief pause, Riven sighed and uncrossed her arms, relaxing her back and turning to look at Irelia. "Alright, alright, what do you have in mind?" Riven surrendered.
Irelia smirked quietly before her lips turned back into a friendly smile as she turned on her heel to face Riven once more. "I think I know someone who might be able to help with your sword."
A slight spark of hope could be seen behind those crimson eyes as Riven's head perked, her attention utterly caught, "you mean," her voice hopeful, "you might know someone who can fix it? Like a blacksmith!?" Riven could hardly contain herself at the thought of the blade being whole again. When she had first fought in the Institute of War, Riven would never forget when she witnessed the sundered remains of her once great blade become manifest with the aid of arcane magic and the summoners. She knew she herself was not powerful enough to summon forth the missing pieces of the sword without the enhanced spell casters, after all, she was no mage, only a warrior...a foot soldier, but she knew she was far more powerful when the sword was whole.
The Captain frowned slightly and shook her head, "nothing along those lines, Riven…I am sorry to disappoint you."
Riven tried not to show any hints of disappointment from the news, even if she had inappropriately raised her own hopes up a bit. "No," Riven gave a half-hearted smile, "not disappointed in the slightest." Her crimson eyes fell upon the young face of Irelia, whose expression was one of slight guilt from Riven thinking her offered help was nowhere near the service she'd wanted. "Hey…"
Irelia lifted her head a bit to look at Riven while rough fingers softly tucked a stray ebony lock from her face behind her ear.
"I welcome whatever help you have to offer, Irelia," Riven's voice was gentle. "It is my own fault for making assumptions without knowing anything more." The exile smiled softly as Irelia rest her cheek in her hand. Her face was warm against her fingers and palm.
"I want you to meet someone important," Irelia spoke softly as her hands came up and took ahold of the Noxian's hand on her cheek. Her eyes followed their hands as she lowered them down and held onto Riven's larger hand in both of hers. She hesitated for a short while.
Panic. That is what Riven felt. Who was this important person that Irelia wanted to introduce her to? A sibling? A parent? What if it was…?
Telling Karma?
Riven felt the color bleed from her face, as if her very soul was trying to tear free of its mortal prison. The exile swayed softly as she stood there; Irelia's smaller hands still clasping onto her hand and fingers. The exile froze stiff, a certain face crossing her thoughts.
Soraka…
What if Soraka ever found out that she had potentially deflowered the Captain? Riven wanted to pass out. No one ever expects the banana…The exile shuddered before looking down at Irelia, who was already looking up at her with a puzzled look.
"You look like you've seen a ghost…you alright?" Irelia frowned a little.
"Fine!" Riven half-squeaked the response. The exile roughly cleared her throat and her eyes diverted from Irelia, "I'm fine."
The Captain chuckled softly, "relax Riven, it's not like you're going to ask my father for my hand today or something." Irelia couldn't help but laugh at all the color rushing back to Riven's face in an instant, the exile's cheeks going dark red. Irelia continued to chuckle from the tease as she turned and walked to the front door leading outside. "Besides," Irelia paused for a short moment, "he passed away awhile back."
In that time Irelia had left her side Riven had knelt down to put on shoes. Hearing of her Father's departure brought a small frown upon Riven's lips before she lifted her head to look at the Captain. "I am sorry for your loss, Irelia. That is never easy."
"I'm sorry too. It seems we have both suffered loss of family, but…" Irelia paused.
Riven tilted her head to the side slightly, a curious look upon her face while she waited for the Captain to continue.
Irelia shook her head a bit, "he is in a better place now; where illness cannot hurt him any longer. His suffering had come to an end…" Irelia looked down at her hands for a short moment, "knowing that makes me feel at peace, despite losing my father." Eyes of soft jade shifted from her hands to Riven who was watching her with an understanding gaze. With a short deep breath, Irelia collected herself and smiled warmly at the exile while the larger woman stood up from fastening the laces of her boots. "Ready?" she asked.
"Ready," Riven replied with a nod, securing the last remaining shard of the once great black stone rune blade to her back.
Irelia tilted her head off to the side a bit as the exile stepped through the front door, "I can't say I've seen you tote the blade around in an actual harness, Riven. That seems far more convenient than carrying it by hand everywhere."
The exile didn't reply right away as she stepped down a couple stairs and onto the ground. She partially turned and offered up her right hand to the Ionian Captain, a small and confident smile upon her lips, "I can think of better things to hold for now."
A small look of surprise flashed across Irelia's face for a short moment before smiling warmly and reaching out to take the exile's offered hand. Riven's grip upon her slender fingers was supportive as the Captain stepped down the steps and stood in front of Riven and looked up at the taller Noxian. The expression resting upon Riven's face was calm and collected while Irelia looked at her with an observant eye. "You know," Irelia began, "If I didn't know any better I would have thought you were Freljordian, not someone from Noxus."
Riven raised a snow white brow as Irelia started to walk, following the Captain's lead and walking next to her. After a few steps Riven added to Irelia's initial comment. "It's the hair, isn't it?"
"And your skin tone, and your stature," Irelia continued to list off the features of the exile that made her seem more unique and almost exotic in comparison to other Noxian decedents. "To be honest, I almost feel like the only thing Noxian about you is your eyes."
"My skin tone?" Riven half chuckled, "have you seen Ashe? She's as pale as her hair."
"Looked at Tryndamere lately?" Irelia replied, "He and his kin are far from pale. They seem to like large weapons too."
"Are you calling me barbaric?" Riven asked, her voice hinting that the question was an intended joke.
Irelia laughed.
"Well if I didn't know any better I'd say you're from Bandle City," Riven teased in a confident tone.
The Captain looked at her with a face of total confusion as to how that was even remotely possible. After a short couple seconds, Irelia realized what Riven meant and punched her right in the bicep for the short joke.
"Ow!" Riven chuckled and rubbed her arm. Her smile faded a bit as they reached the near end of the worn walk way that lead into the more public streets of the Placidium. The exile watched Irelia roll her shoulders and take a deep breath before releasing Riven's hand to stand up straight, that professional visage taking over.
Irelia blinked and turned to look at Riven as the Noxian exile stood tall and straight like she did.
"There was once a time that I too carried myself as you do in public," Riven said, "I may as well play my part as a guest of the Institute."
Irelia nodded and gave her a smile before turning her head back forward, "You know, Riven, you look even stronger when you stand like that."
Riven looked at Irelia as the Captain began to walk forward and off the path. The exile smiled softly for a short moment before she too stepped out into the lantern lit street of the Placidium. Riven had come to personally enjoy Irelia's more professional public persona over time, expressing the stronger and more confident warrior side of the Captain. The exile blinked as they both turned a corner and looked at all the people bustling in the streets. "Is it always this lively at this time of evening?" She questioned.
Irelia shook her head, "No, the festival starts tomorrow. People are merely preparing now that the storm has passed."
Riven simply nodded, being sure to stay near Irelia as they walked through the relatively crowded streets. The exile couldn't half believe how decorative the city had become since the night before as she looked around. The street was bright with what seemed like hundreds of red paper lanterns all strung up for as far down the road as she could see. Stands for merchants and a stage too had found their place along the walk ways. Soon these streets would be even busier in the following days, and Riven was already noticing some of the various looks she was receiving; some nasty, some questioning, and some just plain surprised. Even with Irelia's presence, Riven felt everything but welcome.
Once they cleared the working crowd, Riven took a deep breath and relaxed her shoulders a bit. Crimson eyes trailed up the stair case leading to one of the many ornate temple buildings and raised a brow, "just who is this person?" The exile questioned as she followed Irelia up the staircase.
"Elder Mako resides here," Irelia smiled, "one of Ionia's eldest mystics."
Riven almost immediately stopped in her tracks as the title was mentioned. An Elder. The exile could feel her stomach roll in a sickly manner.
Irelia had not noticed Riven stop and kept walking up the stair case. After a few more steps, the sound of only her own footsteps caught her ear and she turned to see Riven standing a little further behind than she initially was. "Riven?" Her voice was curious as Irelia descended back down to the exile's position, "everything alright?"
Riven looked at the Captain, her expression expressing her nerves, "You didn't tell me it was an Elder, Irelia."
Irelia looked slightly confused by the comment. "Is there a problem?"
There was, but Riven dare not speak it. That was a secret she intended to take to her grave. A secret strong enough to break her own morals and invoke a lie. The exile took a deep breath, "No," she lied, "just nervous I suppose. I guess I find myself unworthy of an audience with someone of that stature here."
The Captain tilted her head a bit, "You've grown as a person and found enlightenment in your mistakes and strive to right the wrongs. Tell me, what greater honor is there to fight for the greater good? If I was wise like Mako, I too would wish to meet one like you."
"You flatter me…" Riven mumbled.
"I am honest," Irelia replied proudly, offering her hand out to Riven as the exile had done for her earlier that evening. "Now, come, we are almost there," she smiled warmly.
Crimson eyes gazed at the offered hand before looking up to Irelia, whose visage was one as proud as her voice had been. Riven swallowed back her nerves and took hold of Irelia's hand firmly.
The street was dead quiet as the two armored guards walked their new patrol due to the festivities beginning the following night. Lanterns of red and gold lined the path, lighting up the street. One of the guard's sighed.
"Is this route even necessary to walk? It's so out of the way of the festival grounds…" One complained from under his helmet.
"I wouldn't question our duty," the other guard replied flatly.
"But this is so off course…"
"Hebo, if you were not aware, a dangerous and wanted murderer has been spotted in the surrounding area," the clearly older and more experience guardsmen commented back as they continued to walk down the street. "It is our duty to our people and city to ensure individuals like that are brought in so no one gets hurt."
The young guardsman took off his helmet as they stopped at their post, "I hope you're not talking about that wind wielding warrior who killed an elder during the Noxian invasion. I heard that guy died a long time ago. He's just a ghost in the wind to scare people."
Hebo's patrol partner shook his head, "If it was a ghost, Hebo, then why would our Captain give us the order to watch out for him?"
Hebo snapped, "I don't know, Xuen, why do you still think every shadow is still a Noxian wanting your head? The war is over."
"The war never ends for some of us, boy," Xuen growled apprehensively, "You best respect that reality and the ones who served so you could grow old enough to serve yourself. You didn't see what I saw. Those 'ghosts in the wind' to some of us are as real as the very world we live in. So mind your tongue."
The two guardsmen stared one another down before immediately turning their attention away as a strange gust blew by, putting out all the lantern's lights. They both remained silent as they drew their weapons and looked around, the light of the waxing moon their only ally in the darkness.
"O-Okay, Xuen, you've made your point…you can stop it now…" Hebo stuttered as he continued to scan over what little he could see. "Any time now! Ah ha! Good one!" The young guardsman becoming more and more frantic.
"You think I did this?" Xuen responded, his calm deadly as he looked around cautiously before snapping forward, weapon pointed at a figure standing towards the end of the street.
Hebo immediately turned as well. "Who goes there?!" He shouted and flinched as another gust of wind cut through the street; the figure missing once more. "Wher-
"Hebo, get down," Xuen shouted as the young man ducked and the older warrior blocked the strike of the blade intended for his partner. Xuen lashed back, swinging his blade skillfully only to be met with the clashing of the figure's steel.
The figure dashed forward, almost running Xuen through in the process, but the experienced soldier was able to get out of the way.
"Where are they!?" The mysterious fighter's voice shouted in the dark, swinging the long steel blade at Xuen. The blades clashed together and both warrior's locked their stance, trying to overpower one another, "where is the one that stole my honor!?"
"You did this to yourself, unforgiven," Xuen growled low and pushed forward on his blade with all his might, unlocking the swords and swinging swiftly.
He was too slow.
Xuen's steel struck the ground and the world went silent as the sound of a blade slicing its way through flesh and bone lingered in the night air.
"NO!" Hebo shouted and got up to attack the assailant only to be thrown back down by violent wind. The young guardsman was slow to get up, hissing and holding his head after hitting it upon the ground from the force of the wind knocking him down. He flinched as warm liquid splattered onto his face; the killer unsheathing their blade from Xuen's chest. Hebo looked up at the looming figure with a terrified look, the blood growing cold on his face. He couldn't really see the man's face, but he knew he was looking down at him.
"I will ask one last time, where is the one that did this to me?"
"I-I-I don't know," Hebo choked out the response through his fear to survive this encounter. "Please, I don't know!" He cried out as the warriors steel pressed up against his neck.
"You're lying!" The man shouted.
"I DON'T KNOW! PLEASE! STAY YOUR BLADE!" Hebo lost it, the fear settling into his very core. "Please, I-I don't know anything!" He begged and started to sob. "Please don't kill me…I-I-I don't know…"
The figure growled and pulled his blade back.
Hebo looked up as he felt the cold steel leave his neck.
The warrior was gone, and all that remained was himself and Xuen, whom was unmoving on the ground just before the terrified young man. Hebo scrambled to his feet, leaving behind his weapon.
Yu, the Guards second in command, sat quietly at a table as the rest of the guards on break were loud and laughing in sharing pleasantries.
"Yu!" One of the guard's shouted, "Care for a drink?"
Yu regarded him and simply shook his head.
"Bah, such a stick in the mud," the man said, "No wonder you're the Captain's favorite."
The rest of the guards started laughing and Yu himself cracked a small smile at the comment.
The door to the building slammed open as the young panic stricken Hebo stumbled into the room out of breath and covered in blood.
Yu immediately stood up and the room went silent as Hebo struggled to control his breathing, the young man's words muffled through his gasping.
"He…He…He…Xuen…Xuen …He…" Hebo struggled.
Yu quickly made his way over to the young man and sat him down. "Breath, Hebo," Yu encouraged calmly, "what happened?"
"Man…Man…He…He…killed Xuen!" Hebo shouted.
"Who?" Yu pressed, "Who did this?"
"The…The…"
"The?" Yu questioned.
"The ghost in the wind!"