Chapter 34: Riding the Wind
Riven's hands were restless on her legs. She sat before the door that led to the hallway which housed the Reflection Chamber. Her broken sword laid across her lap and her bandaged fingers played along the emerald runes that lined the dark steel – a habit that she had long since had and one that had long since lost its meaning. She drew a breath to steady herself, closing her eyes. She could not deny that she was a little apprehensive; Kolminye had given her no indication of whether she would be readmitted into the League when she had made the arrangements that morning. She would be devastated – but not completely surprised – if she was not allowed to join it once more.
She looked up at the clock that hung above the door. Soon, it would be time. Soon, she would make the same journey she had made when she had first been admitted to the League. Her hands shook slightly, but she stopped them. Drawing upon both the techniques the Ionians had showed her and the discipline that had been drilled into her in the Noxian military, she calmed herself. She had done so many times before battle, and it was no different now. She had always found a strange sort of solace in the calm before the storm. Her hands grew steady around her sword and her crimson eyes burned with a renewed conviction when she opened them again. As if sensing her determination, the door before her opened slowly. Riven stood, noting that it was her time to enter. Renewing her hold on her sword, she slipped into the hallway.
Her sandaled feet made a faint clopping sound against the smooth floor, and she could feel the shoulder pad shift on her arm. She wore the same thing she had when she had last been subjected to a Reflection: her shoulder guard, shin guard, and gauntlet, along with the tattered clothes of her travels. The Summoners had told her the first time she had arrived that often times, the clothes someone was Judged in decided their appearance in the League. They became a part of a champion's mental image, one that returned each time they were Summoned. And so, Riven's clothes were the same whenever she was Summoned, regardless of what she was wearing beforehand.
The hallway was the same as she had remembered; a long, intricately adorned hallway that led to a pair of marble doors lying beneath an arch. She did not need to look up at the words inscribed on the arch to remember them: The truest opponent lies within.
How fitting, she thought with a humorless smile.
She passed through the empty hallway without a sideways glance. She was not here to appreciate the effort put into the decoration. She was here to do what she needed to do. She stopped before the doors and they opened for her. Riven stepped inside.
It was not the memory she had expected; the first time she had been Judged, it had been of her "death." This time, it was different. This time, she did not find herself once more in the Coeur Valley; now, she stood before a lone Ionian temple with the sound of her contingent behind her. She could hear Fury Company yelling behind her, and the sound of swords on shields rang in her ears.
The full weight of her armor was almost foreign to her; it had been so long since she had worn a full set. Her helmet was long since cast aside – she recalled that she had lost it in a previous fight, and had decided that it was cumbersome anyways. Long white hair fluttered behind her like a banner in the wind. In the back of her mind, Riven remembered that it had not been quite so short then. Her sword jutted out of the ground before her, the green runes glowing dully in the afternoon sun.
Just like her previous Reflection, it felt as if she were in a dream. She knew where she was, and she knew the outcome, and she could not do anything to fight it. Her hands moved of their own accord as she picked up her sword. Dimly, she noted that her arms were unblemished – there was no trace of a scar or any of her mangled skin.
With a roar, she thrust her sword in the air, and Fury Company roared behind her. The ground trembled as they charged towards the temple.
Suddenly, she was at the temple entrance. And there he was, the same as ever – only without the scar on his face. Her stomach fluttered, but she swung her sword nonetheless. They clashed, their faces inches from one another. She could feel his breath hot on her face, and the tips of their shoes met.
"Noxian scum," he growled as they fought. Riven could only snarl in response, shifting her weight so that he staggered backwards. He regained his balance, shaking his head.
"Ionian coward," she spat with venom as they broke apart. His eyes flashed in anger.
With a shout of rage, he charged her. Riven knocked his blade aside, and raised her own high above her heard. And that is when she felt it. A dark shudder shot up through her legs and through her spine.
This isn't how it went. This is wrong, she thought numbly as her sword came down. But she could not stop it. She could only cry out as her sword cut him vertically from shoulder to waist. His eyes were accusing as they looked up at her, the light in them growing dim. His own sword fell limply from his hand, and he fell forward onto his face. Blood was already pooling under him, and Riven fell to her knees. This can't be- This wasn't-
"You aren't supposed to die," she choked as sudden strange emotions overtook her. "This isn't how it goes."
And then it was over. Riven was standing again, this time in an empty blankness. Rapidly, she blinked away the tears. The man she knew only as Julius stood before her, and he was eying her curiously. There was a long gash from left shoulder to left hip, and Riven closed her eyes against the sight.
"Why do you want to join the League?" he asked, though his voice was different one. His voice was one she recognized.
"High Counselor?" she asked despite herself as she turned to face him once more. The Ionian temple guard nodded slowly.
"I felt it would be best if I oversaw your Reflection personally." He narrowed his eyes at her. "But that is not why we are here. Why do you want to join the League, Riven?"
Riven inhaled deeply and slightly unsteadily. "It's my home now. I've found myself, I've made friends. I feel better here, and I don't know what I'd do without it."
Kolminye seemed surprised at her words, and the man watched her skeptically. "Is that so?"
Riven nodded. "It's the truth."
"Do you feel regret for what you did in Ionia?"
"Regret…? No. I've moved on from that. I've learned not to live in the past. If I did, I'd drive myself mad."
"And this man?" asked Kolminye, motioning at the form she inhabited. "What does he mean to you?"
Riven faltered. "I- I don't know. I don't even know who he is."
"And yet you have feelings for him."
Riven felt her face flush. "I do not!"
"You do, Riven. I can read it in your mind." His face twitched in a faint smile. "A perk of being a Summoner."
"Then those thoughts are my own, High Counselor," growled Riven. As used as she was with sharing her mind with another, she did not appreciate it when they delved into her personal thoughts. Usually, they kept out of that part of her head.
"No thoughts are your own here, Riven. Remember that. The League is an organization that holds trust above all else. Trust between champions, between Summoners, between human beings. If there is something wrong, we will know it. There are no secrets here, and we understand that. We respect your secrets and your past, but I will not jeopardize this organization simply because one foolish girl believes herself better than that trust. We cannot function without mutual dependence." His eyes were as scrutinizing as ever as he glared at her. "And so, if you ever break the trust of the League – or my own – ever again, I will not hesitate to remove you… for good."
And then he was gone and Riven was alone. Slowly, the mirage faded, and Riven was back in the Reflection Chamber once more. Her sword hung from her side, and her bandaged hands were clenched tightly around the handle. She was a little taken aback at the abrupt ending of her Reflection; it took her sometime to realize that the Chamber had opened, this time inviting her back into the League.
She composed herself, clearing her throat as she wiped away the last faint traces of tears with the back of her hand. She drew herself up to her full height and stepped through the doors once more.
The North Wind was not a large ship; it rattled in the sky, vibrating like a bumblebee over the sleek black waters below. Yasuo stood unsteadily on the metal surface of the ship, holding tightly to the sides of the ship. His black hair flowed behind him, and he held a hand before his face to help to block some of the howling wind. The bronze hull shimmered in the moonlight like a second moon and the twin balloons hung next to him like clouds. The deck of the ship was respectable, but it was far from being accommodating. Instead, the majority of the deck was taken up by a closed cabin with frontward facing windows and large lights that lit the air before them.
"Nice, isn't it?" shouted Renner over the sound of the wind, his face split in a wide grin. "Come on, let's get inside."
Yasuo followed him, stepping gingerly. He did not trust the ship to hold him; it rattled like a loose tooth and the inconstant sound of the engines did little to calm his nerves. He followed Renner into the cabin, closing the door behind him.
Although the sound of the engines and the wind grew muffled, it still remained. Yasuo yawned in an effort to rid his ears of the uncomfortable sensation of pressure. He looked around the cabin. It was larger than the cargo hold, but only by a little. The front-facing side was almost entirely a set of windows with a panel of knobs and switches spread out on a large console beneath the glass.
Jack sat before the panel, his hands moving nimbly over the panel surface as he chewed absentmindedly on an unlit cigar. He played the switches like a musician, and alternated between looking out the windows in front of him and looking down at the blinking lights below him.
The rest of the cabin was packed with numerous small boxes and packages that were strewn across the floor with reckless abandon. Against the far end, Yasuo could see a bunk bed built into the wall. They were simple and messy, with blankets and pillows propped haphazardly onto the covers.
"Watch your step," said Renner as he kicked aside a path for the two of them. He sat down on a chair beside his brother before motioning at the beds behind them. "There's not much room, but if you take the bed, we should manage." He gave Yasuo a sympathetic smile. "Sorry about the noise. Not much we can do about that."
"Its fine," said Yasuo as he leaned against the beds. He stumbled as the airship shook violently, but he caught himself. Once his heart has stopped racing, he spoke up.
"How long until we arrive at Piltover?"
Renner shrugged and looked at his brother. "How long do you think, Jack?"
Jack considered the console before him for a moment. "I'd wager within the next 2 days, if we fly nonstop."
"Nonstop?" echoed Yasuo. 2 days without touching dry land?
"It's the only way we get our packages there on time," said Jack as he looked back at Yasuo. "Don't worry; it's not as bad as you think. We usually take turns sleeping and steering."
Yasuo groaned inwardly. "I'll take your word for it," he muttered as he leaned against the beds.
"You're welcome to try to fall asleep," said Jack. "Those beds should serve well enough."
"You don't need my help? With anything?" asked Yasuo. He was more than willing to repay such a large debt, regardless of what he was told to do.
"I shouldn't; Renner here and I usually handle this on our own." Then he paused. "But I'll wake you if anything comes up," he added.
Yasuo nodded slowly. As he did, a heavy feeling of sleepiness fell over him, and he yawned loudly. When he opened his eyes again, he saw that Jack and Renner were looking at him in amusement.
Renner chuckled. "Sounds like you need some rest."
Yasuo ran a hand through his hair. "I might," he admitted sleepily.
"Get some sleep, then," said Jack as he turned back to the windows. Somewhat awkwardly, Yasuo slipped into the bottom bunk, clasping his sword tightly to his chest as he laid back. It felt strange to say so, but the swaying motion of the airship and the low rumble of the engines were soporific, and he found himself drifting off to sleep.
When Yasuo awoke again, it was to the rays of sunshine shining through the cabin windows. He sat up, groaning in pain as he collided painfully with the bed above him. Clutching at his head, he swung out of the bed. He blinked against the light of the morning sun as his head throbbed painfully. He looked up at the sound of a chuckle.
"It takes a while to get used to it," said Jack as he swung around in his chair. "I think I almost gave myself a concussion the first time I got out of bed. Couldn't fly for a week."
"I can see why," said Yasuo, rubbing his forehead gingerly. He looked around.
"Where's Renner?" he asked; the younger brother did not seem to be in the cabin. Jack waved in the direction of the windows.
"He's outside. He's checking up on the engines."
"In the middle of the air?"
"There's no choice. If something happens to us up in the air, there wouldn't be any time to land." Jack looked around at the ocean beneath them. "Not that there would be a place to land to on the first place."
Yasuo watched as Jack fiddled with several of the dials on the console. Finally, he gave a grunt of satisfaction and stood, flipping a switch as he did so.
"Come on," he said, motioning for Yasuo to follow. "Let's go outside and see what Renner is up to."
Yasuo looked hesitantly at the console. "Isn't there supposed to be someone working that?" he asked uncertainly.
Jack gave a laugh. "Don't worry," he said reassuringly, "It's on autopilot. We won't be falling out of the sky any time soon."
With that, he opened the door to the cabin and walked outside. Yasuo gave one more backwards glance at the console before he followed Jack outside. The airship did not seem to be moving quite as fast as before, and the wind seemed to have died down. Now, it only tousled his air, though it still bit at his skin He took the oxygen mask that Jack offered him, tying it over his mouth. It would serve to make sure he did not pass out in such a high altitude.
The sun was shining high over the horizon of the sea, and Yasuo could feel it on his back. He walked around the deck of the airship, still somewhat uncertain on his feet. He felt the rumble of the ship beneath his feet, and it was as though he stood atop a dragon of some sort.
He jumped as a hand clapped on his shoulder. Turning around, he looked into the grinning face of Renner. The younger brother had on goggles and a tight cap in addition to his oxygen mask, and his face was blackened with grease and smoke.
"Good morning," he said cheerfully as he pulled the goggles off over his head.
"Good morning."
"Excellent day to be flying," he said as he made his way towards the front of the ship. "Not a cloud in the sky," he noted as he stood next to his brother. Jack was standing at the helm of the ship, arms crossed before his chest and staring far into the sky ahead.
"I'm not so sure…" muttered Jack as he squinted into the distance.
"What do you mean?" asked Renner as he wiped his hands on a rag that hung from his belt.
"A storm's coming, isn't it?" guessed Yasuo. He could feel it in his bones; a pressure was building in the air all around them. A pressure that could only mean one thing.
Jack looked at him. "That's right." He looked at his brother. "Tie everything down, Ren. We don't want to lose anything when it hits us." With that, he made his way back into the cabin. Renner sighed as he ran a dirty hand through his hair. He clapped Yasuo on the shoulder as he made his way to the back of the ship. "You should get back into the cabin, then. There's not much to do out here."
Yasuo nodded, and he made his way back into the small cabin. Jack was seated at the panels once more, rapidly adjusting the various knobs and buttons. Yasuo looked over his shoulder with interest, but found that he understood absolutely none of the numbers or buttons that flashed on the console. Instead, he turned to the windows, looking out at the blue sky before them. He looked up at the sound of the cabin door opening. To his surprise, Renner looked somewhat concerned, and he walked over to his brother.
"What's wrong, Ren?" asked Jack as he saw his brother's expression. Renner swallowed.
"Something's wrong with the engine, Jack," he said uncertainly.
Jack straightened. "Which one?"
"Left side. It sounds funny and I can't figure out why."
"Something wrong with the exhaust?"
"No, the exhaust is fine. I think it's the engine itself, Jack. We need to lower the stress on it before it burns out on us. Otherwise we're stranded up here with one engine. And if we screw up, we'll be torn to pieces by the wind."
"We can't just stop; there's nowhere to land. Besides, we can fly with one engine. We've done it before."
"Yeah, but not in the middle of a storm. And I don't want to be caught in the middle of a storm with only a single engine, Jack. I don't like those odds."
Jack looked out the windows. "Neither do I," he said finally. "But we don't have much of a choice."
"Is there someplace nearby we can land?"
Jack shook his head. "I don't know off the top of my head. If you check the maps, you might be able to find something. But besides that, we don't really have an option other than to keep on flying."
"I'll check the maps, then," said Renner as he made his way over to the side of the cabin. Yasuo watched as he rummaged around the various boxes before finally pulling out a large map. He pinned it up against the wall of the cabin, and Yasuo saw that it was dotted with numerous small points and hastily scrawled script.
"What are our coordinates?" he asked Jack. Jack ran off a string of numbers that Yasuo neither caught nor understood, and he watched as Renner ran a finger over the map. He waited with held breath until Renner spoke up again.
"Got it. Southwest from here. There's an island that we've landed on before."
"Are you sure?"
"Clear as day."
"Coordinates?"
This time, it was Renner that rattled off the numbers as Jack adjusted the knobs on the console. Yasuo staggered as the ship shifted, and the sound of the engines grew higher. As the ship turned, he felt a pit of fear sink in his stomach. Far ahead, he could see the beginnings of the storm. Dark clouds loomed just over the horizon, stark against the surrounding blue. Jack grimaced at the sight.
"There it is," he said unhappily.
"Yep," murmured Renner. "Let's hope we beat it to the island."
But the storm came quickly. One minute, the skies were clear and empty, and the next, a grey film had covered them. Winds picked up around them, and Yasuo could feel them howling and tearing at the airship. The little ship shuddered in the winds, and Yasuo had to put a hand to the cabin wall to steady himself.
"How far are we?" asked Renner over the sound of howling wind.
"We're still a couple minutes off."
"We need to land soon, Jack," said Renner.
Jack's reply was cut off as an ominous rumble rocked the ship. He looked to his left, and to his horror, saw that the left engine was smoking.
"Renner!" said Jack sharply.
"I see it. Keep looking for that island," he said as he pulled the goggles back over his eyes and stepped out into the howling wind.
"Will he be fine?" asked Yasuo as the door closed.
"We've been through worse storms than this. He'll be fine." He peered out the windows. "What we have to do is look for that island. We're nearby, so the coordinates will be useless. It's up to us to find it now."
Yasuo made his way over to the windows. His eyes scanned the dark oceans for any sign of an island, but he saw none.
"It's going to be tough to land in these winds. If I don't hit it just right, we might break our landing gear," said Jack. Yasuo grimaced. That did nothing to raise his spirits.
He resumed looking out the window, scanning the ocean for any sign of an island. He was growing more desolate when Jack suddenly struck him on the shoulder.
"There!" he said, pointing. Yasuo looked in the direction he indicated, and felt relief swell in his chest at the sight of the little island. Jack was already adjusting the controls, and the ship turned in the direction of the island.
"We'll have to circle it and wait for the right moment to land," he said as he flipped the autopilot switch again. "Come on, let's go tell Ren."
Yasuo followed him out the cabin, holding tightly onto his sword as vicious winds buffeted him. The ship was tilted slightly as it circled, and Yasuo could see the island down below – it was little more than a speck in the distance.
"Renner!" shouted Jack over the wind, "We found it!"
"Good, because I don't think the engine can take much more!" came Renner's reply over the wind. He was hanging off the left-side balloon, a wrench in hand as waves of smoke billowed from the engine.
"Come on, then. Let's get back inside and prep for landing!"
"On it!"
And that was when it happened. For an instant before it did, Yasuo felt as though he was in a dream. The air around them seemed to slow until time was almost at a standstill, and Yasuo could hear his pulse loud in his ears. Foreboding fell like a dark cloud around him.
Then the ship shuddered, and an explosion rocked the North Wind. Yasuo staggered back as fire engulfed the left engine, sending a small shockwave out from the balloon. Wincing as fire stung at his skin, he slammed painfully against the cabin wall. Gritting his teeth, he pushed heavily off of the deck of the rocking ship, making his way quickly over to the left engine.
"Ren!" shouted Jack beside him as he too pulled himself to the side of the ship.
"Renner!" shouted Yasuo, blinking though the fire and the smoke. He has to be fine. He has to be. He looked over the side of the ship at the balloon, certain that he would see Renner hanging there.
But the younger brother was gone.