A/N: Time for ANSWERS!
First of all, let me tell you all : I am fully aware of all the stuff in the lore of champions, cuz i read it when i am bored (always) so ya' know.
Stolenwarpig: This is pretty close to an error, but who said Brand made the statues out of the fact they are dead? Or he couldn't find bodies that resembled their death? So, he made the statues to remind himself of those other mages who were equal to him. Simplicity! :O
FreakinAssassin: I feel it STRANGE. I don't kinda get what you are saying, but... Ok. I won't fix ot, ya know? I like it how it is so...
The others: MAN! REALLY? You like my story? Well, I am touched! TOUCHE! Hah, thank you.
Jax was walking, walking led to thinking, so he was thinking. Those who died were merely the half of all those who resided in the Institute. Was it truth that no Ionian died then, because he didn't see any statue of theirs. What about those who ran deeper into the burning sanctuary? So many questions and no answers. Why werent there any answers? Jax kept to thinking and wondering about the fate of those who survived, not taking notice in the sudden disappearance of the forest around him. The grandmaster at arms also didn't notice the caravan with loads of cages full of men and yordles. He also didn't catch a glimpse at the thugs who immediately ran towards him. When he saw them, it was too late. A mage shocked him with electricity, while the men started beating him. He couldn't hold his lantern and it fell on the ground. When the grandmaster was at the breach of consciousness, another person left the carts wich continued moving. He was riding a horse and had really expensive clothing.
"Stop!" Said the person. He was old, white beard and hair covered his head while his cheeks were adorned by wrinkles. His eyes were really light blue, almost white. Un natural eyes, Jax thought. Surprisingly the thugs immediately stopped beating him. The noble, as the grandmaster at arms thought, unmounted his horse and caught his hand, probably to inspect it.
"He is strong. We will be tanking him as another... Recruit." He said and let go, mounted his horse and went after the caravan. The thugs looked at Jax and signaled one of the carts to stop. They opened one cage and threw him inside it, locking the door. He sighed. The cart kept going, slowly and really annoyingly, but kept going. Jax tried to sleep. Surprisingly, he succeeded.
His eyes opened. He sighed. The night sky was simply looking at him, as if laughing to the grandmaster. He winced and stood up, to a sitting position. It was almost dawn, so he just waited for the others to wake up, his intention to ask them where are they going. The day of the attack was at 3th of April, 23 CLE. Now, he wanted to know wich day it was, why were they in cages and where were they headed. Jax waited, in a meditating state, so time would go faster for him. The grandmaster heard someone wincing. His eyes opened and inspected the carriage. A man, with black skin and bald head, was filling a wound on his arm with... Smashed bread? That was so wrong, it would just speed up the process of infecting and probably attract maggots.
"Hey, don't. That's really bad, you don't know what will happen to your arm if you do it with smashed bread. Try with some improvised bandages." Jax offered, surprised by the surprised look the other man gave him.
"Thanks, I guess." He said and removed the food. His hand was seriously wounded, the skin was ravaged. A sharp sword wouldn't do it, because it would simply slice through. It was a dull blade wich probably hit a lot of times, seven to be exact. His mind wandered around the ways to remove the infection or cure the wound. Sadly, a lot of herbs were required and there was going to be a lot of cord. Jax sighed.
"Hey, will you tell me wich day are we? Because I have a memory span and don't quite remember." Jax started asking and searching for answers to his questions. The other man looked and smiled.
"Hah, it's the 1st of May, 24 CLE. You know, it's been quite some time since I talked to someone like that. Carelessly. By the way, my name is Randrek. Nice to meet you..."
"My name is not important now. I want to know where are we headed and why are we in those carts. I am not a fan of being caged against my will." Jax interrupted. His voice was low, dangerously low. More than one year? But how? Didn.t Brand say that only fifteen days passed, or... The time before he settled there, or Brand just got it wrong. Jax sighed. He was quite lost right now, his whole purpose unknown. Yet he told Brand all those things... Randerk started at Jax with something that might represent awareness. He coughed to attract the grandmaster's attention.
"What do you mean you don't know where are they taking us? This is a 'random gladiatory slave' caravan. They take people they find all alone on the road and just... Well, capture us, close us in cages and travel to Noxus. There we are sent to the arena, where we fight to the death. There is no way out. Well, except one, but it is counted impossible. To be awarded a wooden sword. The wooden sword is worth a man's life. Too much. The only way to be awarded a wooden sword is to become so wanted by all the owners, that the one who found you would have to either sell you or give you the wooden sword. This marks your freedom. You can go wherever you want once you earn your freedom. As to why are we in the cages? Simple. We are now slaves to the horseman." Randrek explained. Jax sighed. He was in a truly different Valoran.
"You know wha-" Jax started.
"Oh my God, we are here." Winced Randrek and interrupted the grandmaster. And yes, they were truly at the gates of Noxus. They were massive, the blood - red flags covered the wooden wings on each side. There were multiple guards who guarded them. One of them walked towards the leader, the noble who left Jax' life to remain safe for now. They spoke about something for some time, then the guard started inspecting the cages. Jax immediately understanded that they will recognize him so he got his capes off, leaving only one to cover his skin, he also wrapped a bandage around his lower neck to prevent anyone from seeing the multiple eyes. Randrek was quite strange, sobbing and wincing at every sound. He was probably afraid from something. The guard passed by them, taking a look then returned to the first carriage. The gates then opened. Jax was led into Noxus.