If slipping into the Freljord created a shock of cold, then appearing in Shurima as the dawn rises is a shock of heat. The clothes that were more suited for Freljord melt and shift into a material that is cooling and breathable while still covering my skin from the heat. Even my scarf as morphed into something more tolerable. As it is, I'm glad that it's dawn. At least it's cool... and yet, I'm still too warm. Even if I don't want to, I pull my scarf over my head. My hair is dark, absorbing heat like crazy. If I didn't take care of it, my brain would feel like it's frying. After a second, I finally remember that as a Darkin... this sort of thing shouldn't bother me... Still, it's nice to act like a normal person. To remind myself of their limitations.
Ok... note to self. Make a stop before going from a place that's really, really cold to really, really hot! Starshadow hisses in discomfort as he slips out of my scarf. I catch him as he drops.
Probably a good idea. I agree with him before looking over a cliff. Starshadow's teleportation is getting more accurate. We're at least above the town that Kassadin and Kaisa live in. I know... because I can see the house where Kaisa and Kassadin live. I recognize the balcony as well as the location. We should also remember the opposite... but I'm impressed.
I've been doing this forever!
Well, at least you teleported us where we're not immediately attacked!
... Fair point, fair point. Mom's been giving me tips. Starshadow shrugs as he defends himself. I shake my head affectionately. My hand slides into the scarf surrounding my neck. He rubs his head against my palm, his throat a soft growl in happiness.
As it is, I look over the cliff. It doesn't seem like I'm going to have much difficulty... but the sands are sneaky. They hide sharp objects, much like snow and leaves. It takes a moment, but I almost slap myself from my own idiocy. Even after almost a decade, I still think like I usually do. It's actually a slight comfort to me that I still think like a normal person. My magic isn't getting ahead of me. I'm still me... but at least I can make things easier for myself.
I let my magic being my sight fade and shift over to Starshadow's eyes. The first step I take off the cliff is caught by shadows that I conjure underneath me. The first few steps are slow, testing my magic skill. There's not a single drain on my core, and I'm not falling. With a little bit of confidence, my hand extends out. Shadows form, creating a slide for me to go down on.
Starshadow lets out a happy squeal as we slide down. His tongue hangs out of his mouth as he peeks his face from his hiding spot. I don't make the slide twist and turn too much, making it easier for me to keep track of where we are going. Still, Starshadow taking over my magic and creating twists in turns make me a little dizzy. My head is throbbing as we finally get to the end. Instead of standing up with little to no shaking, I'm sliding onto my butt, with my head on the ground. My scarf slides away from my head slightly, releasing my hair. I groan as I let the sight fade. I'm back to my normal blindness for a moment. Then, there's someone poking at my side.
My bonded waits for the next poke before lashing out. Whoever is attempting to touch me yelps and screams as he runs away. Starshadow just laughs at the man's reaction before sliding off my shoulders. His form grows as he wiggles his tail underneath me. Once he's coiled around me a couple of times, he sits me up. I groan a bit as he forces me to get up, but I can handle it.
Thanks. I mumble to Starshadow as he shrinks back down to size and finds his favorite spot on me.
Meh. You've been doing well. If you can be a leader when all you wanna be is a friend, then I can help out and dirty my scales... but when we see Kaisa and her mother, both you and her are giving me a special bath to get rid of the stress lines in my scales. Starshadow demands. The sun is definitely rising now.
I still chuckle under my breath. My slight dizziness has almost completely disappeared at this point, making it much easier to walk. I'm able to enter the village... only for a mass of people to greet me with sharp objects. They point their farming equipment at me...
I take what I said back. I'm still getting threatened...
That's your own fault!
You're the one that decided to attack the person with the stick!
Oh yeah... That was fun.
"State your name and business here." One of the villagers, an older one, yells at me.
"Leilah and Starshadow. We're just here to talk with Kassadin... Is he here?" I answer all his demands.
"Leilah!" A child still, Kaisa races through the villagers to give me a great big hug. I catch her with a smile... Aspects, time is flying by me. She's taller than I am now... probably a teenager by now. Being timeless... It's starting to feel like a curse.
"Greetings, Kaisa. How are you this sunny day?" I ask in her native tongue.
"Great! And you don't have to be so formal." Kaisa claims as she pulls away.
I know that my shuriman greetings are more formal. My mother, her mother, and her mother's mother have all learned more formal greetings. They claim it's because when our bloodline returns, we will need to be prepared... of course, that was before she found my village, with my Father... Instead, she taught me those greetings and ways of speaking as a way to remember her family.
Hiya! Do you have a bath that I can take? Starshadow perks up happily.
"The sands?" Kaisa asks, remembering Starshadow's need for cleanliness.
The sands.
"Sure. Then you can meet the prophet! He's supposed to be coming to town today. Also, we heard about the war in Ionia. I guess that since you're here instead of there, things in Ionia are going well?" She makes small conversation as she pulls me into the village.
With Kaisa's acceptance, the townsfolk relax. Many of them return to their original duties while a few of the more suspicious adults remain close. They follow us to Kaisa's home, where her mother is frantically cleaning up the place. She looks up to see her daughter innocently skipping towards her.
"Kaisa! I thought I told you that you were to go get the fruit for the prophet..." She scolds the young girl.
"I know, Mother, but then shadows appeared on the sands! I wanted to come and get her." She apologizes to her mother... I just realized that I never actually learned her name... She finally looks up at me.
"Healer Leilah!" She gasps as she recognizes me. Her hand covers her mouth in shock before she drops to the ground, kneeling in front of me.
"Please... Don't." I rush over, stopping her from completely bowing. I hate it when people bow to me.
"...Is my husband alright? He left a few months ago... He's due to come back in a few days." She frets anxiously as she looks over my shoulder.
"I think he's alright. I only came here to-" I promise her.
"Why? He was completely recovered from when you last came here. Are you expecting something to have gone wrong?" She persists.
"Mother, calm down. Maybe she'll be able to explain when you aren't in her face?" Kaisa rolls her eyes at her mother's fretful behavior.
"Go get the gifts for the prophet. Now." She glares at Kaisa. The young teenager accepts that this is not the time to pressure her mother and makes herself scarce.
"It's not that I was expecting something to go wrong. I just wanted to learn more about Shuriman history. I thought that Kassadin would be able to tell me tales..." I trail off, a bit uncertain if I'm saying the right thing.
"Oh... Oh! Well...My husband left for some ruins in the west... It's dangerous, but apparently there's something of great interest. A crest of the last Shuriman emperor was spotted in a ruined caravan. Kassadin originally didn't want to go, but when a Piltovan couple offered to pay quite a bit, we can't afford to say no. So, he's guiding them through the desert. I suppose that since you came here looking for tales... I can indulge you. At least until the prophet comes... Come in, come in." She invites me into their little home.
It's as quaint as I remember it, only a few changes. The portraits and pictures are more mature, with Kaisa and her Mother standing behind Kassadin. Both women are proud to be behind the patriarch of the family. And yet, there's a pride Kassadin has in his family. Kaisa's hand is on her Father's shoulder, and Kassadin's is on hers. It's not completely formal... A family. Something I miss dearly...
I didn't even realize that I stepped up to touch the portrait until Starshadow clears his throat in my head. I yank my hand back just in time for Kaisa's mother to come back in with a large bowl of water with petals on the surface, as well as two glasses of plain water. It seems like she also remembered Starshadow's need for cleanliness as he slides into the warm rose petaled water... I really need to learn her name-
Thank you. Starshadow moans happily. She gestures for me to sit, which I eagerly do. Since Starshadow's bath water is so close, I just absentmindedly clean his scales of dirt, grime, and excess scales. He groans in pleasure at the attention.
"Thank you, Ma'am." I speak out loud. My head is starting to hurt... I need to let my magic fade... hopefully she won't notice my blindness. Especially since Starshadow coils himself in the bowl and lets me look through his eyes. I hope that I'm looking in the right direction...
"Call me Mieke. It's probably been so long that you don't remember my name." Mieke, thankfully, gives me her name. I carefully take a cup and bring it up to my mouth... well, I would if Starshadow didn't steal from me. He dips his head into the drink, swallowing the liquid before retreating back to his place in the bath. I roll my eyes before sipping down some.
"Thank you for your hospitality. It really means much to me." I speak my gratitude.
"No need to thank me, young one, though I am curious as to why you would come to this part of the world. Especially since Demacia has requested your presence for a ceremony for the prince." She remarks as she takes a seat in front of me.
"They did?" I blink in surprise as I take an offered glass of water. Right before I take a drink, Starshadow's head darts in. He greedily guzzles about half the water before he lets me drink. I glare at him as he returns to his relaxed state in his bath.
Thanks...
What? My scales do not tend to themselves! I need to have nice things to look nice!
"They did. Demacia is apparently having a celebration of the Prince's graduation. In a month's time, on the Prince's sixteenth birthday, in fact." Mieke continues to talk with a cheerfulness.
...Well, time to be royalty again. We can't skip over such an important event.
You just want to be spoiled.
WE ARE ROYALTY IN DEMACIA!
WE AREN'T A PART OF THE ROYAL FAMILY!
Says you...
"But... you probably don't wish to discuss such things here. Not when you already stated a desire to learn about Shurima. So, what do you want to know about Shurima?" Mieke returns to my original task, distracting me from Starshadow's ego.
"My mother told me the Legends of Shurima. Like Amumu and Rammus... but that's all I really know." I rub a particularly stiff spot on Starshadow's body nervously.
"You don't know the downfall of Shurima? You have the Healer Daamien in your soul..." Mieke sounds puzzled.
I was in a war with the voidborn. While being a part of Emperor's Ascension would have made my life, I was ensuring the Void remained in Icathia. By the time I heard of what happened to my lord Azir, he was gone. Dad explains himself, sounding sorrowful over the loss of his leader.
"Dad was in a battle when the emperor Azir was gone..." I recite what he said.
"Dad? I suppose you've accepted him as family then?" She seems pleased.
"I did... What's the story about the last Emperor? I'm sure that Healer Daamien... would like to know." I lean forward, finally getting attention off me. The only reason why I hesitated is because Daamien just isn't Daamien anymore. He's my Dad. Calling him by his title is just... wrong now.
"You can call him whatever you want, Apprentice Healer. Mentor's often become a parental or older sibling figure. It's quite common for Master and apprentice to adopt each other. The only historical master and apprentice that renounced their relationship is Master Daamien with his Master." Mieke states as she takes a drink.
"That's because Dad's skill as a fighter was impressive, but he hated fighting. He chose to study healing instead." I defend him.
"I'm not saying that it's a horrible thing. Masters often just took in a student and had total control over them. If Healer Daamien didn't publicly leave General Aatrox, then many other apprentices with skills that were better suited for other duties would not have spoken up. Healer Daamien is more than just a name around here." Mieke explains her words. There's no malice, just explanation. I settle back into my seat, a glow in my cheeks... How long have I been in Ionia that I take every comment as an attack?
"...Sorry..." I mumble my apology.
"It's alright. You did just come from a war. It's natural that you are tense." She assures me before speaking of her people's history.
Shurima's past... It's a source of pride for Mieke. For me, not as much. When Shurima was first created, it was under a first sun disc. Dad jumped when the first ascended, Setaka was mentioned. He murmured in my mind just how much of a great leader she was. So great that even when she was affected by the fallen, she wouldn't truly fail until his mentor killed her... it seems like Aatrox killed quite a few fallen Ascendeds before Dad stepped in...
As it is, for most of Shurima's time, they employed the use of indentured servants. People from Icathia. Their lands were far smaller, considered to be a land of resource, scientific study... and slavery. Icathia was Shurima's testing grounds. Shurima took and took froom Icathia constantly. It wasn't even the voidborn that they were testing on... but humans. The practice continued until the day they ended... I almost can't look at Dad... I can't help but wonder what Daamien was a part of.
I did not accept those practices, Daughter. You have my word. I was actually in agreement with Azir's advisor at the time, Xerath. They earned their freedom ten times over. Dad notices my shame and eases it while Mieke is talking. Thankfully, his interruption is quiet and brief. I can pay attention to the rest of Mieke's tale.
As it is, Shurima's domination of Icathia forced the country to drastic measures... from Mieke's tales, it sounded like Icathia was simply experimenting with the void. The moment I heard that Shurima took men from Icathia to do labor, I know why Icathia took the measures they did... They did what they had to in order to break free from Shurima. And yet, their attempts caused a war that lasted for ages... one that a few generations above Dad's Ascendeds barely won. Icathia became swallowed by the void... The entire land was swallowed by the purple, living thing. It created an army of monsters that those like Aatrox and Setaka had to fight. With the Ascended on their side, the void were shoved back. They conquered the land and stopped the invasion of the void... but at a cost. The country of Icathia, in Mieke's words, were lost from their foolishness. I get a different image. Instead of Icathia being foolish... they were desperate. To be slaves to an empire... I could have been one to Noxus. And with how I was treated... I would do whatever I could to escape it. I'd make allies with people I could never accept...
When Mieke tells me that Shurima fell a few centuries after Icathia did, I almost smiled... Almost. I kept my mouth still as this is the history of my Mother's people.
From what little Mieke knows, Emperor Azir entered the chamber to Ascend with his most trusted. No one can agree who went in with him. If his closest went in, if there was an assassin, or if there was an accident. All that was known is that the Emperor Azir did not Ascend... and all those inside were lost. Sort of. A monster, full of blue energy, escaped the room. Renekton, a crocodilian Ascended, was forced to fight the energy being into submission.
After the Emperor was lost, the Ascendeds lost themselves. Rhaast, Varus, and Dad were constantly monitoring the border, holding the void back. The loss of Varus' family and Dad's son caused the three to become Darkin. The rest of the Ascended... They turned on each other. It wasn't until Dad came back to his senses that he understood exactly how bad things had gotten. Aatrox and Dad's friends had slaughtered all the other Ascended. And they would have turned on Dad if Myisha didn't interfere and teach Dad how to seal them away...
From then on, the sands were restless. They await the day that the heir of the great Emperor comes back.
"...That's amazing." I can't help but be amazed anyway. Now I understand what Mother is hiding... yet, I don't understand at the same time. Sure, the history of Shurima's great empire is making me feel anxious, but it's not something that Mother would hide from me... Then again, she was determined to make sure that my life would be free of strife...
"We all await for the day Shurima returns." Mieke shrugs back the last of her drink when the door opens. Kaisa is struggling to get the groceries in. Mieke and I help her pull the produce in. Starshadow whines but finally leaves his bath, looking and smelling extremely clean. Almost immediately, Mieke gets to work on making something.
"Mother, can I go play on the cliffs? I know that the prophet is coming, but the guys are saying there's something really cool on the cliff edge." Kaisa asks as she finally gets the last bag in.
"Well... I do need to make Umm Ali, and Malzahar is coming soon..." Mieke trails off.
"My Mother's favorite dish to make back home is Umm Ali. I'm sure that I can help." I immediately offer my assistance.
"I won't be long, Mother. I promise!" Kaisa, sensing the chance to get away for a bit, pleads.
"I'd really rather you have a chaperone there-" Mieke is very reluctant.
I can go. And if that's not good enough, I'll take Dad with me. Besides, I'm more liable to actually eat the food before it's done being made. Just save me a slice. Starshadow solves that issue. Mieke bites her lip before sighing and agreeing. Both of the childish ones let out noises of success before Starshadow leaps onto her hand. Kaisa darts out, chatting in Demacian about the cliffs and her Father.
I, on the other hand, begin to help with the Umm Ali. A bread pudding from Shurima that is Mother's favorite... unfortunately, Targon did not always have the ingredients that Shurima has, nor did we get a lot of trade with them. We made do... but I could always see my Mother's pain when she'd take a bite. And I don't think because it was made wrong. Mother said that the food tastes just like home... and I understand why she cried now. She misses her home...
"Who is Malzahar?" I ask, desperate to not let my tears fall.
"He's a prophet. He can simply touch her hand and tell you your future. he told me mine a few years before I met Kassadin. He told me that my life would be content, with a husband and a daughter as long as I worked to help others. Sure enough, Kassadin comes falling quite literally into my lap and it was love at first sight. Kaisa... she's all I need." Mieke recalls fondly.
"...Maybe I can get him to see my future..." I ponder a little bit. Would Yone's soul and mine be endlessly connected? Could we make our interesting relationship work? I hope we can.
"I'm sure... could you cut up the figs?" Mieke guides my hands for the rest of the recipe.
It's not the same as my Mother's since we use Targonian substitutes and it's been way too long since I made Umm Ali to really remember, but the finished product smells amazing. And yet... It's not the food my Mother used to make at home... Shuriman fruits are far different than Targon's. And yet, this Umm Ali... it's more cheerful. There's something about this smell that isn't so sad. Not like my Mother's. I understand why Mother's food is sadder when making her people's food. She misses her people. I wish I got to meet my grandfather... yet, from what she said, it sounds like it's better I didn't. I'm not certain I would enjoy being taught how to keep a book on my head or have my hands folded on my lap while watching others do work. It doesn't sound fun or happy to me. It certainly wasn't for my Mother.
The entire time I work and help, I can't help but ponder about Azir's fate... What happened to him that no one knows? And what would an explorer like Kassadin thinks... For Dad... Dad should get to know what happened... I'll tell him when he comes back.
"...What does Kassadin think? About what happened in the ceremony?" I ask when the dessert is complete.
"Well, Kassadin studied the notes. According to Azir's personal journals, he selected two to go in with him. His advisor and his-"
Just as she is about to state who else, there's a chiming of bells. These alarms sound different from when I first arrived. Mine were alarmed. These seem... welcoming. Well, they aren't as urgent as they were for me. Mieke seems to perk up. She grabs onto my hand and the Umm Ali. She barely even hesitates when she pulls me out of the hut. Her dessert remains in her hand as she guides me to the center of the town.
Standing... or rather, floating there is a man dressed in blue. He has a purple cowl on his head. He brushes it back, revealing black hair and the sharpest blue eyes I've ever seen. His skin is as dark as light chocolate... and yet, something is off. My stomach feels like it's twisting in knots as Mieke brings me closer to him.
"My Children... My brothers... Sisters... Sons, and Daughters... I bless thee. I bless all." The man... I gather to be Malzahar raises his hands. He floats higher into the sky. All the townsfolk bow down before the prophet... All except me.
Something about this man disturbs me greatly. The blue of his eyes... they aren't sane. They are crazed. I've only ever seen that kind of insanity before... From Kline's madness. Only this one is far, far stronger.
Mom... What is wrong with him?
If only Daamien was here... stay alert. Mom warns me.
"Prophet Malzahar, a new child has come!" Mieke calls out to him. He stops floating higher. His gaze pierces me as he looks down in interest. The moment our eyes meet... his flash in an unrecognizable way. One that makes me want to find Starshadow and run.
"Come, my child. Come close and see your future." His voice... it sounds sibilant. And yet, as the crowd forces me to stand in front of him... all I can do is keep my guard up. Especially when his hands touch mine.
"Please let me go. I'd rather-" I try to politely decline. Then his gaze sharpens... and I can't move. The moment I realize that I'm bound, my magic fights it furiously. I can't fight it. Each time my magic gets close, it feels like it's being consumed. I'm starting to feel drained...
"I see... A fall... So much pain in your life... your short life that will end. All your lives... for the Watchers are hungry." He declares.
I'm helpless to move as he raises his hands. The townsfolk are confused, then alarmed as the ground ruptures under their feet. Purple lights strike up as townspeople drop in. From the edge of my mage vision, the edges of the town are consumed. The people scramble away from the edge... only for the edge to get closer and closer to the center. Parents throw their children desperately in the middle as they fall into the depths with a scream.
Mieke races forward, the Umm Ali dropping to the ground with a shatter. She desperately grabs my hand. She tugs and tugs at my arm. Nothing moves.
"Malzahar... Stop! What are you doing?" Mieke screams at him.
"The void... is inevitable." He sounds slightly apologetic. The last of the ground disappears at the same time my vision blinks out. Whatever he's doing... it's draining me of my own magic. I don't have much strength left.
Mieke squeaks as her feet suddenly run on air. She desperately clings to me. I fight his magic just enough to hold onto Mieke's hand. My head bursts into pain as Starshadow calls for my attention.
"Starshadow... what is that?" Kaisa squeaks nervously as Starshadow chuckles. It seems like they were having fun causing chaos to the farmers here. Goats race off as fast as they can over hills... She will definitely be in trouble if she's caught... though there are more serious matters to think about.
What's... Leilah! Starshadow seems lost until he realizes what is happening. To his horror, he sees what is happening to the town. more and more purple seems to be swelling up, rising into the sky. There's a little dot high above... Malzahar... and his holding gaze onto me. Mieke struggles to keep her hold on me. Only because I have enough strength to grab back that she hasn't fallen.
"Starshadow!" Kaisa cries out in alarm. My bonded whirl around to see the ground turn purple. it cracks violently, causing the girl to collapse. Starshadow looks between me and the Shuriman girl before growling and leaping forward.
"The void will be grateful for your sacrifice. They would benefit greatly from your power." Malzahar declares. The tight grip he has on me fades... and Mieke pulls me into her arms as we fall into the Void.
...Well, then. Ok... That was not turning out how people expected... though it's interesting to hear that Leilah is finally learning her heritage. Wonder who her ancestor is... Hee hee hee. I'm evil. And, since one of my readers finished their exams, I'm posting as a sort of encouragement. Feel free to leave a review about your theories as to what the hell is going on.
Champ of the chapter is Vi, the piltover enforcer. May you all punch through your challenges like the enforcer, and I hope you all recognize just how extraordinary you are. For an example, you're still here, after 800k words. That's pretty damn impressive in my book.