As Talon moved to evade his pursuer he felt the sensation grip the left side of his body. As he focused his attention his eyes lost sight of his enemy, and when he regained his sight he screamed in pain. The figure stood at his side, its arm diving dangerously through his side. He fell to the ground heavily as blood poured from the wound. He breathed heavily realizing the outcome of the battle if he kept this up for much longer. As he stood back up his enemy stared at him, no visible damage showing on his body. Talon focused hard on everything that had occured, and no matter where he struck his opponent his body would simply regenerate. As a last ditch effort he decided to go for the place that anyone would. He dropped his left dagger to the ground and held the other defensively. His opponent stepped forward slowly and Talon charged. His opponent matched his move, as the figure closed in on Talon its arm grew brightly and morphed into a long spike. As the distance became less and less Talon spun to his side quickly, the figure thrust it's arm forward completely missing Talon. Now that he had the advantage Talon focused all of his will into his dagger and drove it heavily down into his opponents head, it split the armor like skull easily. As the blade cut down through the body the winds exploded outward shredding the internal organs of the vessel.

Talon watched intently as his opponents body dropped lifelessly to the ground. He watched for several moments yet the figure did not move. As he looked around he saw Fiora still in combat and the other champions engaging the vessels as well. Kassadin stood near the obelisk silently waiting for his moment. Talon picked up his other dagger and rushed to Fiora's aid. As he arrived the behemoth that stood in front of him knocked him to the side effortlessly and his hammer came down heavily striking Talon in his injured shoulder. The sound of bones breaking was easily recognizable as Talon crumbled underneath the momentum of the weapon. Fiora looked at him in dismay and jumped nimbly striking the giant in his chest and kicking him backward. Talon stood once more with the same cold expression in his eyes. As Fiora looked at him he darted in front of her. As he reached his destination he fell back heavily as the projectile connected with his chest. Fiora knelt down by his side placing her ear over his mouth, but the sound of his breathing was not present. She placed her hand on his neck as she'd done the night in Noxus, and his pulse was absent. She stood once more with the fire of anger burning deep within her eyes. She withdrew her smaller dagger and threw it with great force directly into the giants chest. As it connected the dagger began to glow with it's electric blue aura and Fiora brought her rapier over her head. The clouds in the sky began to churn overhead and a loud crack was heard even before the lightning struck down. As it moved quickly to the ground it found her dagger embedded in her enemies chest striking it heavily. Fiora rushed forward while her enemies was off guard and brought her rapier across it's throat quickly as it feel backward lifelessly.

She rushed to Talon's side placing her hand once again on his neck. His skin was ice cold and as she opened his eye lids all that was visible were the whites of his eyes.

"He's fallen."

"I'm aware, but he did it for a reason that none of us may ever understand. That's the thing about that man. With all of the silence, and all of the observing, no one would ever guess that he's come to care for most of the League's inhabitants, and he would never admit it to anyone. However, he just proved it. He put himself in the line of fire willingly and knowing that his body couldn't handle it."

"And what of the sorceress?"

"She is ready. Summon her."

The sky above Icathia suddenly took on a faint blue glow. In the back where the carriages still rested on their sides a woman appeared, a white aura surrounding her. Her bright blonde hair flowed smoothly down her neck and over her shoulders. As she grasped the horror of the scene in front of her the smile gently faded from her face and was replaced with a look of nervousness. She glanced to the side seeing the young man with Fiora's jacket over his face, and as she examined the rest of the seen she saw many people lying helplessly on the sands. The blood shed became to much for her to bare. As she let the sympathy that was ever present in her body flood through her body her staff began to emit a faint white glow.

"Believe it or not he's still alive, but barely. They say that a person can live for up to 5 minutes after the heart has stopped beating given the correct circumstances. It is all a matter of how fast the brain becomes inactive. I have faith that even in death Talon will not give up easily."

"Then why have we summoned the girl to the battlefield?"

"Because she possess the key to our success. When we began bringing the runes out of hiding I knew that I to had to do my part. In those times there was a healer named Artemis but known better by her title 'the Prophet of Charity'. Do you recall the old tale?"

"Yes I do, but you're being rather vague general, just what are you trying to say."

"The story that you've heard is in fact of a true person, a very powerful young woman blessed with immense magical potential. It wasn't just that which gave her the title that she held but a small stone that existed in her staff."

"You mean a rune?"

"Yes indeed. The rune that Luxanna Crowngaurd now possess. The stone of charity. I have the feeling that even without proper instruction she'll be able to use it, she's a remarkable young woman. Kind, generous, caring; I only saw it fit that such an angel be blessed with a power that does not bring harm."

"What do you mean? The stone has no offensive uses at all."

"Not in the least. One cannot battle with the Light of Life, but in the correct hands such a power can heal even the most fatal of wounds, and protect against the most powerful of attacks. The lives of the men and women that risk themselves on the frontlines now rest in her hands."

Lux stood motionless over Talon's body. She looked at him and felt disgusted. She had never imagined that she would ever see the man in such a sorry state of being. The ground under him was dyed pure red with the fresh blood. Tears began to form in Lux's eyes and the stone in her staff began to grow more brightly. 'He can't be dead, not like this. He just can't be, he's not the type of person to die this way. He's still got so many things left unfinished, and a woman who will never see him alive again. He can't be dead, I have to fix this.' Lux struggled frantically to control the thoughts racing through her mind as she wept over the Noxian's corpse. The light that her staff emitted continued to grow in intensity and her tears fell directly onto Talon's chest. As if knowing the desires of Lux's heart the light manifested itself off of the staff enveloping Talon's body. Lux's eyes were held shut tightly and she did not see the miracle that was taking place. Strands of light formed off of Talons torn flesh as the wounds began to tie themselves together. After a few minutes Talon's body laid completely intact on the ground. Lux opened her eyes and placed her hand on his neck, but his pulse was not there.

The fight still raged in the background. Of the 12 vessels only 5 remained standing. Across the sands bodies of soldiers lay helplessly. There was no time to tend to the wounded though. As the purple gate began to glow brighter figures began to appear below it. In only a few moments the soldiers looked out and saw an army of Kog'Maw like creatures charging forward. Everywhere around them living artillery rained down from the sky.

As the voidlings charged forward the soldiers saw a lone champion stand in front of them. Seeing the bravery of the one they stood at his side ready to turn back the horde of void creatures.

Galio stood in the front of the ranks with his wings spread open wide. As he stared intently at the charging wall of voidlings he beat his wings heavily causing the wind to kick the sand up. As the motion of his wings grew faster and faster a small torrent began to form in front of him traveling quickly towards the wall of enemies. As it connected the voidlings were thrown out of ranks and the soldiers behind Galio rushed at them. As the enemy was spread out amongst a great distance they were weak. As the blackened metal of swords pierced through their larval bodies the strange acidic liquid poured out.

As the final voidlings were slain the men once again looked at the gate to see the next wave beginning to form. Galio leaped into the air directly towards the gate. He landed heavily smashing down and bringing his wings heavily around him. As he sat in his same position the wind began to kick up around him and the voidlings began their assault. Shielding his body from the brunt of the attacks the soldiers charged in. As Galio absorbed the entire assault his body was covered in large gashes, but he paid no mind to the wounds. As the voidlings continued to pour out of the portal it was visible that Galio was becoming weak, and as the last artillery shell struck down directly on him his wings erupted outward knocking all of them away. His eyes glowed blood red in anger, his voice almost demonic. He brought his arms down heavily seizing one of the voidlings and tearing it in half effortlessly. As Galio began his relentless rampage the corpses began to pile up around him. The soldiers seeing his sudden outburst fought harder to turn back the hordes of the void.

During all the commotion nobody had seen the body move. Now as he stood in his concealed position he waited. He watched Kassadin intently, waiting for his moment to help. As the final few vessels were brought down he saw Kassadin disappear into his glowing purple orb and rushed after him. Kassadin appeared next to the giant stone obelisk where the gate was beginning to weaken. He brought his hands out in front of him placing them mere inches from the enormous portal that sat in front of him. As he began to focus his own purple glow intensified as a decade of stored energy raced through his body. All the while he chanted in a long forgotten language.

Reaching Kassadin's side he quickly grabbed his arms and pushed Kassadin back heavily. With his right arm outstretched toward the portal and his left resting on Kassadin's chest the energy poured through him. He began to chant the same as Kassadin had been and the markings on his skin once again began to glow.

"This is not your place to die. This is my doing, and I will end this the way that I started it." Ezeacha yelled back as Kassadin struggled to get up

With his final words the glow of the portal encased Ezeacha and exploded. All eyes turned to where he had stood before and as the smoke began to clear he stood motionless with his arms outstretched. As the champions moved to go and praise him a soft breeze blew through, and his body began to disappear into it. As they surveyed the scene they saw an unfamiliar looking man laying on the ground.

"Who are you, and how did you get here?" one of the superior officers approached the man slowly.

"What do you mean who am I? I came here with all of-" the man paused briefly as he brought his hand up to gesture to the carriages, "what's happened? Everything has changed."

"Where there was once flesh fate turned to stone, I have returned the flesh to it's rightful place." Ezeacha's voice echoed through the battleground.

"Kassadin." the man said softly as he looked at his flesh for the first time in 10 years.

He looked silently across the body littered sands and found the man he was looking for. Motionless and cold Talon lay helplessly in a pool of his own blood. Kassadin stood silently and walked towards him. He brought his body down low placing his hand over Talon's face and shutting his open eyes. He placed his hands beneath the body and lifted it up effortlessly and laid it in the back of one of the carriages.

"He's not dead. Not just yet, but it's very possible that he will never move from the position he is in right now. His brain is active, his pulse is weak, his breathing shallow. Take care of him." Kassadin's words escaped his lips solemnly as he tried to grasp the reality that was unfolding before him.

Sona sat in her room silently thinking about Talon. She looked down at the bracelet that hung around her wrist and saw the shimmer of light fade away. Tears formed slowly in her eyes as she felt the sudden emptiness in her heart. She fell to the ground softly weeping as the shadowy figure entered the room.

"The look is not befitting of you. Do not cry over those who are lost, when they are not lost in the first place. Whether living or dead the man will always be part of you, both in your heart, and the baby girl to be born. So rest for now, and the sun will come out tomorrow, I promise you this much. He won't give up that easily, he won't make the same mistake his parents made." as the general spoke Sona drifted out of consciousness. He lifted her up silently and placed her in the bed and covered her up. He bent over and kissed her softly on the forehead as tears gently streamed down his own face.

As he looked at the woman resting in the bed he was only reminded of the time in his life when he'd seen the same sight in his own home. As the image of his wife came to mind the tears flowed more quickly down his cheeks, and in his mind he prayed that Talon would come back from wherever his mind was lost too. The reality of the situation gripped him heavily as the thoughts of losing his pupil became more and more likely.

Katarina stood by the carriage silently looking at the fallen assassin. Inwardly her heart sank deeply as she fought back the tears that struggled to break loose from her eyes. As the champions gathered around the fallen warrior the general infantry gathered their wounded. Galio lay wounded next to the obelisk, his wings torn apart from the assault they had endured. Garen, Jarvan, and Xin Zhao rushed to his aid and lifted him onto one of the empty carriages.

Everywhere across the battlefield the bitter sweet reality weighed down on their shoulders heavily. Victory but at what price?