Chapter 25: Ionia remains a strange place.
After a two day journey, the trade cog had reached Yujong.
A lively port city, the resounding sound of working men audible throughout the small valley where it resided. Every day brought a vast quantity of both tourists and residents.
As Ionia's foremost trade port, this level of crowding was to be expected.
The potential to get a well-paid job was high due to the vast coffers of the city being bloated by perhaps one of the best locations to establish a port on the Ionian landmass. The strategic military importance of a defendable island port would always be a significant boost to morale among higher positions in the Ionian military. The sea route to Yujong was surprisingly calm along one strait that stretched from Northern Piltover territory to directly into the bay along a relatively small, fifty kilometer, line known as the Paramount line, named after the strait being key to the protection of incoming aid during the Noxian Invasion several years ago. The last few battles of the invasion were about the acquisition of Yujong, the final push to secure a worthy port after a Kinkou-delivered strike on Noxus' previous landing point, Ji Fan bay, left the area rendered inhospitable through scorched earth tactics. The end result was Noxian forces having to withdraw from the island due to the attrition costing its treasury far too much to support the invasion any further. Noxus still suffered from that war in a different way to Ionia, but Ionia was far more scarred by the invasion than simple poverty.
Yujong had recovered significantly since then thanks to the trade industry. Ex-soldiers and militia were given priority access to job opportunities, reducing the 'unhappiness scale' from a seven to an amazing eight!
Or so said the local council.
Xerath and Ahri made their way through the crowded streets. Merchants called out to lovely ladies to sample their amazing perfumes made from plants deep in the dangerous forests of primal Ionia, others content with selling confectionaries and market food, while others had earned enough to go down to a local bar and celebrate a business deal. Children ran through the streets laughing, until their mother or caretaker recalled them back from sweet stands. The very air was busy with the sounds of Ionian dialect, an indeed impressive compendium of pronounced vowel usage.
But they had business to attend to.
The two continued on through the dirt path streets and the refurbished wood infrastructure. There was supposed to be another trade convoy set out for Yamanoryu that the Institute had bargained with for transportation.
All they had to do was find it.
After an hour, they had found the convoy.
It was incredibly small, comprising of a grand total of four horse-drawn carts.
Nothing like the three-dozen loaded wagons during their journey to Glassgown.
"Are you two from the Institute?" A middle-aged Southerner asked, his suspicions from the garbed robes the two wore.
"Yeah, I assume this is the trade convoy we're supposed to meet with?" Ahri replied in Ionian, unsure as to Xerath's understanding of the Ionian language. He had shown no usage of it since he had gotten here. When it got around to getting better and friendlier deals in Ionia, using the island's language was one of the best ways to smooth the process out.
"So who are you two?"
"Ahri, and this guy's-"
"Xerath. I am pleased to meet your acquaintance." Xerath answered in surprisingly good Ionian, albeit a bit choppy and guttural.
"Champions? I thought they would send some Summoners instead."
Was he disappointed?
Perhaps.
"Oh well," the man sighed. "Name's Gue. Been running this here trade convoy since my grandfather passed it down to me. No one knows the path to Yamanoryu better than me and my fellow friends and family."
Xerath looked beyond Gue, finding the man's friends. All of them looked decent with no obvious signs of discomfort. A good sign.
This journey may take a while. Better to make sure now that no inter-party problems would arise.
But none may see the fates by just looking at a single thread.
The trade convoy trundled along across the dirt road. They had long passed most notions of civilization, bar a few signposts and country houses that were visible in the thick forests of Ionia. Like Ahri had said, nearly every single tree looked the same by mere glances.
But then Xerath saw tiny flickers of light dancing in the fading sun.
Wisps.
The most basic of all magical entities. A concentration of magical energy whose behavior was entirely based on the environment.
So often used for scientific pursuit that many would pay significant sums to acquire them. Thus, capturing said beings were left to licensed Wisp hunters in order to control Wisp depopulation.
It was a pity he could not go and acquire one. The things were absolutely beautiful in their dances when the sun went down. Truly an amazing sight.
Knowing Ahri's absolute adoration for them, by that being the taste of them, he did not wish to show her them. There had been several occasions where Ahri had covertly snuck into the League's Wisp containment room and procured jars of wisps. She had eaten them like when Annie had gotten her hands on a cookie jar.
Wisps were staple food for magical beings, comparable to good bread and water.
Except the raw burst of magic when the wisp membrane peeled off was ecstatically strong.
Not surprising why Ahri loved the taste of them.
"One sec, I just need a piss." Ahri said rather boldly.
Like hell does she need a piss. She obviously wants a wisp or two.
"Ahri."
"Nature's call."
"You aren't going to answer the call, I know that much." Xerath whispered to her as to not draw attention.
"Wh-What do you mean? Everyone needs to go sometimes." Ahri tried to say without smiling awkwardly.
"Wisps."
"Sh*t."
"If are really going to do it, take this as well." Xerath whispered while reaching into his bag.
"Our wisp supply is starting to decay and we need a few fresh ones. I'll need a couple to test Syndra on her magical abilities when we get to her." Xerath pulled out a glass container.
"So you're saying it's fine?"
"Yes, just do it quickly."
Ahri face beamed like the morning sun.
She loved wisps. She really loved them.
Ahri made her way off to the wisp dance. Xerath could see her through the thick underbrush snatching the slow-moving light balls and dragging them into her mouth. He could see her giggling in delight at the sudden burst of energies that flooded into her, occasionally jogging on the spot with eyes closed in the raw pleasure of pure magic.
Her eyes met Xerath, who was unimpressively staring at her.
She pouted for a moment out of the denial of her meal.
Xerath continued to stare at her, no motion coming from him. He just kept on staring.
Rolling her eyes, Ahri undid the container lid and started plucking wisps from the air and started to deposit the fruits of beaming light into the glass.
After the glass container was full, she made her way behind a tree to do some business.
So nature had called her after all.
After Ahri had returned, with the glass full of wisps thankfully, the convoy set off once again. The past few kilometers had been uneventful, the time passed by conversing with Gue and the other merchants.
Gue was ex-military from the time of the invasion, yet had seen little conflict because of his skill in logistics. That also meant that his fellows had been preyed upon by Zaunic covert operations. His lungs had almost been destroyed after a chemical attack and his chest had been almost been sliced in two.
He was happy now that the war was over and done with. He had never wanted to be a soldier, and was happy just living out the rest of his life being a merchant. His family had backed him up and lived with him now, after Zaunic forces had annihilated their village. He had a son and three daughters, more than enough to pass down the family name. His hatred of Zaun still burned, yet not so much as to be fanatical.
Fanaticism is a horrible curse, the binds of ignorance being so much stronger than the constant lust of knowledge and the paralyzing power of uncensored truth.
His fellow merchants were also ex-military, some of them being less lucky as to face the brute force of the Noxian forces. There were some that had prosthetics or scars across their bodies from the bloody melees that Noxus loved.
Battles with no lines, just the cacophony of steel on plate mail with no rules binding to the attaining prisoners of war. The Crimson Elite would wait like vultures over the battlefield, ready to dive down on any targets of opportunity and either dispatch them or 'acquire' them for questioning.
A simple concept that was significantly harder to put into practice because of Ionia's auxiliaries from Piltover and the threat of dragons in addition to their ranks of military arch-mages. Magic would always be a deciding factor, especially when one side had dominance in the case of Ionia.
Whether Ahri's human form had resulted from magic run amok, that was still to be determined.
The thick forests had started to dissipate, revealing a small town near the bottom of the valley they had entered. Welcoming lights in the midnight darkness.
"Looks like we're going to make a stop here. Some really strange creatures you do not want to meet appear around this time. I've seen a couple of them, or at least had a glance at their dark hides and the sound of their howls."
"Ionia still remains a land of mystery then?" Xerath questioned in grating Ionian.
"You an old-timer then, Xerath?"
"Indeed I am, I remember when Shurima was still a prosperous land filled with both flora and fauna alike."
"Holy- How long ago was that?"
"Two and a half millennia, or something along those lines. I was cordoned off in a tomb for most of that though."
"In a tomb- You're a dead guy?"
"Technically not, just a different body that has not aged. It is a very long story."
"So what did you do during that time in your tomb?"
"My thoughts ran rampant, as idleness turns all to corruption. I was thankful enough to keep my sanity, yet I have lost so much and this world still remains strange to me."
"The Gods guide you then, I know they have done me a great favor so far."
"I pray hope they continue as well."
At first light, the trade convoy set off once again. The night had been filled with the sounds of strange creatures indeed, like Gue had said.
In a clearing, two men were facing off against each other surrounded by an audience of mostly women.
It was Master Yi in his sleek glistening steel armor, against what seemed to be a local swordsman.
"MASTER YI!" The swordsman started, "I would like to have my daughter to remain with her family for the moment, not start gallivanting off with a pervert such as you."
"Pervert? My good sir, I would never do such a thing as to even attempt such a behavior. I believe that she should have the option to choose a man that she herself has chosen is all."
"She is my daughter, so I get to choose who she marries! NOW STAND AND FIGHT SO THAT WE MAY END THIS SILLY ARGUMENT!"
"You do realize who I am right? I understand that the League is not well broadcast around here, but even a small understanding of who I am would help you realize that what you are about to do is a poor decision."
"I AM THE STRONGEST AND MOST POWERFUL SWORDSMAN IN THIS ENTIRE VALLEY, YAO TSCHUAN! PREPARE YOURSELF FOR DEATH!"
"Only personal friends may call me that name, and I get the feeling that you are not a friend of mine."
Yi sighed, knowing that he had to put this man down somehow. Of course he knew how to do that, but he wanted to appear epic and awesome.
Oh, how I must always think of dramatics.
"Ready yourself then, brute." Yi said briefly, hand by his imposing Wuju-forged blade.
"YAAAAARRRRGGGH!" Yao started as he picked up his pace, quickly turning into a run at Yi with his own monstrous two-handed great sword ready to bear down upon Yi's lithe form.
Light suddenly distorted as Yi's blade shone with the ancient power of Wuju. The blade appeared to phase out, each movement leaving an after image of it's spectacular shining grace.
Rotating his blade in front of him in what seemed a life-time, Yi appeared motionless and void of time itself, uncaring as to the monstrous man running with blade at hand directly towards him.
In the blink of an eye, Yi swung his blade back and began his pounce. The very air sung as his blade and body turned into one single flash of light. The flash flittered like a fly caught in a glass bowl, surging towards Yao with immense ferocity.
Yi gracefully returned from his phase distortion, skidding across the grass to a stop.
"Annoying brute." He audibly whispered.
Yi slowly slid his blade back into its sheath.
Chink.
Yao's immense sword fractured like glass.
The man's clothes suddenly turned into actual ribbons that flew off from his body in a rather spectacular fashion, leaving the man stark naked.
Meanwhile, Yi turned to Yao's daughter, holding his hand out to his side.
A small bouquet of flowers elegantly sailed downwards from his strike, directly into his outstretched hand.
Presenting it to the girl, she immediately wrapped her arms around him in joy from having freedom from her oppressive family and being able to live with her hero.
"YOU B*STARD! GET OVER HERE AND FIGHT ME LIKE A REAL MAN NOW! I WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THIS HUMILIATION!" The monster behind him cried, wanting a real fight, not these weird magic spells.
"I've trained a monkey to be an expert in the Wuju arts, and you appear to be less than one. Know your place, lumbering beast." Yi replied without even looking at the man.
"FINE! I'LL CRUSH YOU WITH MY OWN TWO HANDS LIKE THE WEAK RUNT YOU ARE!"
"Must I really resort to teaching you a proper lesson? Very well then."
Yi drew his blade in the blink of an eye, spinning around and slicing the air in front of the behemoth.
"WAS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE A WARNING? HA! THOSE WEAK TRICKS WILL NOT SAVE YOU, MASTER OF WUJU!"
"That was no warning." Yi replied softly, once more sheathing his blade.
Chink.
Blood flew from the man's lower parts in a gruesome manner.
Even Xerath had to shrug away from the sight of what humiliation Yi had made the man endure.
That area was already an area of mutual agreement of what not to destroy for an honorable, male, opponent.
But Yi had just surgically removed it.
Yao was holding what remained, his voice reaching the pitch of Annie's irritating vocals from the sheer pain of striking that region.
Even the strongest men in the crowd swiftly moved their hands down in order to confirm the continued existence of their parts.
No sane man would even consider aiming for there.
"Holy sh*t, Yi can be really scary." Ahri's voice commented.
Xerath looked over at Ahri who was completely shocked by this turn of events.
"Y-You do not go there, ever. Even I wouldn't go that far. I've seen enough memories to know that sort of pain. I've never really seen it happen myself, but that is the ultimate form of torture a man can go. It's just so… devastating."
"Thankfully I will never have that pain in the rest of my life."
"Huh?- You sunova- you beat me to it."
"I deny you this time."
"Mou…" Ahri moaned unhappily.
"Ah! Is that Ahri and Xerath I spy? It looks so! How have you two been?" Yi declared as he began approaching the convoy.
"Shocked by your rather powerful lesson. Other than that, we are on Institute business at the moment." Ahri quickly replied.
"I know what the mission is, it is fine. But I do have some information to pass on."
Yi cleared his throat with a brief cough.
"A queen is crowned, the crest of Ionia falls low, as doom roars triumph."
"Sounds like some prophecy to me." Ahri began.
"That is because it is. It's a prophecy going around in the Council. Most people I know understand that it is focused on the Sovereign, but the remaining factors remain a mystery. You mind keeping an eye out? This prophecy is dire indeed for all of Ionia, potentially even the world itself."
"Noted. By the way, those were some impressive moves back there."
"Your compliment is well received, Xerath. I always try to be… an inspiration to others."
"You take any good pictures with those goggles you wear?"
"These? These are just for reading scrolls." Yi said defensively.
"I'm a magician, I know when you are taking pictures with those goggles of yours. Find any good breasts recently?"
"Nononono. I would not stoop to such a low level. Never would I do such a thing."
"I know your tastes, Yi. It is fairly obvious when you activate them."
"Wha- I have never done such a thing-"
"Yi." Ahri started.
Yi looked over to Ahri's fabulous body.
Quick picture to save for later.
Ahri was smiling.
But why was she balancing a small blue foxfire on her index finder?
"Do you want to remain potent?" She asked.
Potent.
Yi's eyes opened wide behind his goggles.
She is going to do something to my own parts, isn't she.
Stay calm, stay calm. Maybe I can talk her out of this.
"A-"
"You are looking rather pale now, Yi." Xerath interjected, trying to make the most fun out of this situation.
You b*stard! You are having fun putting me in the spotlight, aren't you?
"He's taken one so far, you going to let him continue?" Xerath said.
YOU SONUVA! WHY CAN'T YOU LEAVE A MAN BE DAMNIT!
"Yi."
Yi jumped slightly at Ahri's serious tone.
"If you want to submit now and get it over and done with,"
The small flame blazed white-hot.
"Remove your pants."
Sh*t.
In a quick motion, Yi suddenly darted off across the valley at an unimaginable speed, leaving Yao's daughter behind and instead focusing on his own survival and the survival of his potential children.
"YOU AREN'T CATCHING ME YET!" He cried.
Ahri burst out laughing and continued to do so for five minutes straight.
Even Xerath tagged along with her laughter.
She is pretty funny, I guess.