Chapter 8
Mitna Rachnun
Mordekaiser
Mordekaiser was sitting on his throne when Keira entered his throne room and floated towards him. Once she was only a few feet from his throne, the former Ionian woman spoke.
"Milord, your son has arrived." Said Keira, her face impassive like always. Upon hearing that, Mordekaiser nodded.
"Good. Send him in." Said Mordekaiser. Keira bowed at that before leaving the throne room. Eventually, she returned with Moxxie in tow. Upon seeing his son and the frown on his face, Mordekaiser again spoke. "Has your visit to this Morgana been soured, my son?" Upon hearing the question, Keira left them alone, going to attend to other duties for her lord.
"Yeah." Said Moxxie once he was sure that his father can hear it. "Dad, she told me what you did when you were alive in Runeterra. And when you became the Iron Revenant. All the people that you killed and enslaved during your rule." Moxxie then looked at his father in hurt and confusion. "Are…is everything she said true? That you did all those things she said you did?" Mordekaiser, upon hearing that, looked Moxxie in the eye before bluntly speaking the truth.
"In some ways, yes." Said Mordekaiser. When Moxxie widened his eyes in shock, Mordekaiser spoke. "But some of the information she told you is incorrect in some instances and no doubt has her own views into what I did. However, the majority of what she said was indeed correct. I was known as a tyrant to the living. An undead warlord that ruled with an iron fist and almost took control of all of Valoran and would have taken the world. Those were, in fact, correct." Upon hearing his father basically confirm most of what Morgana said was true, Moxxie looked at Mordekaiser in shock and a bit of betrayal in his eyes. Taking a step back from his father, Moxxie was unsure of what to say to him.
A part of him wanted to deny that his father was capable of such things. That he wasn't the tyrant that Morgana said he was. But he knew that his father was telling the truth. He never lied to him and he had nothing to gain from lying to him. He had been a tyrannical ruler that enslaved thousands and killed countless more. It was against everything that Moxxie thought about his father. A wise and moral ruler that cared for those they ruled, no matter their worth. Not a tyrant that abused or killed those they ruled. Mordekaiser must have seen the horror and sensed the conclusions coming into Moxxie's mind because he soon spoke.
"I know what you think, Moxxie." Said Mordekaiser as he looked at his son. "I know that you think lesser of me because of my past action. That I am not what you think I was before, but I assure you, you misunderstand." Mordekaiser then got up and looked at his son as he walked towards him. "The masses during my rule during my earlier years may call me a tyrant. One that stomps down and ruthlessly culls those that speak against him. However, they claim that because they do not understand. They do understand that being under my rule is better than that of others. Especially those that believe they follow my philosophy."
"What?" Asked Moxxie upon hearing that, confused at what his father just said. "What do you mean?" Mordekaiser simply chuckled before getting close to Moxxie and holding him in one hand.
"You remember what I said about the living world being filled with paranoia and ignorance?" Asked Mordekaiser as he looked at Moxxie. When the Imp nodded, Mordekaiser continued while summoning a portal. "It is not just that. The living world is also filled with hypocrites and the strong abusing the weak. And I will show you what I mean. Come. Let us see how the living rule their people." He then summoned a chair, a rather comfortable looking one for his son, on which Mordekaiser put him there before making the portal show them an image of a great city of stone and iron. A city that was less appealing to the eye than one would expect for a city, but to Mordekaiser, it was a work of art. It was Noxus Prime. The capital city of the Noxus Empire and was built on the foundations of his Immortal Bastion, which was located at the very center of the city. Impressed with the practicality of its design compared to the more visually appealing castles and cities that Mordekaiser witnessed the Noxian legions destroy or conquer for their empire, Mordekaiser had to admit the people of Noxus understood his views better than he originally thought. Especially after his traitorous witch betrayed him. Comforts and luxury have no purpose in expanding and strengthening one's people. Only practicality and advancing one's people mattered. That being said, admiration for the Noxian people's understanding of his views was not the point of showing Moxxie this. The point was to show Moxxie that, even though they follow his philosophy or at least inspired by it, Noxus still fails to rule all its people effectively.
"I believe you were taught by Keira and your instructors about Noxus, yes?" Asked Mordekaiser, referring to those teachers that Mordekaiser assigned to teach Moxxie when he became a sufficient age to learn. Though one would think that someone like Mordekaiser cared little about things like teachers and scholars, they were wrong. Though he would admit that he cared little of such things during his time in the living, Mordekaiser learned the value of those that can teach. After all, they can teach people his greatest and why they should be grateful for his rule. That and they can make his warriors more efficient warriors and leaders. Yes.
"Yes, they did." Said Moxxie as he looked at Mordekaiser. "They're descendants of those that successfully rebelled against you, right?"
"Correct." Said Mordekaiser as he looked upon the image of his old Immortal Bastion, a reminder of his greatness. Vowing to own it once again along with his old suit of armor, Mordekaiser focused on what he wanted to show Moxxie and thus changed the image of the Immortal Bastion to a slum in Noxus Prime. Here he showed Moxxie why the world needed to be under his rule.
"Do you see this, Moxxie? Do you see how these people live, even in the capital city of Noxus?" Said Mordekaiser as he showed his son the poor conditions of those that were living in the slum. Moxxie gave out a gasp of shock and horror as he watched people wearing rags and living in buildings that were full of holes and leaking dirty water. People were in poor health, coughing out blood. Some weren't even living in those buildings, they were out in the streets in poorly constructed tents made of raggedy wool and sticks. Or in boxes. To make things worse and get Moxxie feeling something he couldn't understand, some people were actually passing by those sick and poor people, even when they begged them for help. People that were completely healthy were ignoring those that were begging them for assistance. Some of them were even taunting them or beating them up, saying they weren't true Noxians or something like that. It made Moxxie sick to the stomach. Mordekaiser noticed this and thus further explained.
"Yes, Moxxie." Said Mordekaiser as he saw his son's emotions. "This is allowed to happen. The weak are being ignored or trampled on by the strong, despite the Noxian way. The people of Noxus claim that they follow a way of life that allows anyone to advance in their society, no matter their upbringing. That even those from these slums can become great generals or even become nobles in Noxus. Yet, despite those claims, they have people living in these pitiful conditions. Some of the common people even beat these less fortunate souls for their situation, despite the societal views of their nation. Why do you ask? Because Noxus is the same as Demacia. As Ionia. As Piltover when it comes to the impoverished or poor. They do not help them advance because they rather focus on the rich and powerful. The influential. The ones that can benefit them the most without much expenditure. Speaking of those in power, let us see one right now."
Mordekaiser then showed Moxxie an image of the upper class of Noxus. One of the noble houses of Noxus to be precise. Despite being as practical as possible, the mansion that Mordekaiser showed Moxxie still held things that angered the Iron Revenant. Large empty rooms filled with nothing but materials that required such large rooms for them like books or suits of armor. People waste their time on what to wear for the day. And, the worst offender in the eyes of the Iron Revenant, a celebration being held that celebrated the birth of a child. Precious resources, food, and time were wasted on the celebration of a single child. Not a celebration of a great victory or the possession of more land. No. Just the birth of a child. If he had any, Mordekaiser's blood would be boiling at the expenditures of the party, even more so with how large it was. Still, it benefitted him at the moment as it allowed him to show the failings of Noxus to his son. Thus helping him prove his point.
"Do you see this, my son?" Asked Mordekaiser as he showed Moxxie the celebrations being held at the mansion. "Do you see this waste of resources in this celebration? Resources better spent helping those in that slum and many more in this city? The people of Noxus claim they're pragmatic, yet they do things like this because the people that own that home possess things those in that slum don't have. Money. Power. Influence. These things enable them to get away with this expenditure of resources because they provide things to those in power in Noxus. Things that put them above those in possess none of the things I mentioned, Moxxie. Thus, they can get away with certain things." Moxxie, processing all this, just openly gapped at the big mansion and the massive party that was being held. The mansion was jammed packed with food and drinks that Moxxie was certain that the people in the mansion couldn't possibly eat by themselves, even with all the servants and pets inside as well. Food and drinks were better off with those people in that slum instead of these people. Looking at his father, Moxxie asked him what they were planning on doing with all that excess food.
"No doubt, they'll throw all that excess food away." Said Mordekaiser, shocking Moxxie. "Do you not understand, my son? These people do not care about the impoverished. The weak because they see no reason to. They think they're better than them because they have things that those they deem weak have no access to. They believe they earned this. The privilege of wasting food. The privilege of wasting resources. The privilege of looking down on those that don't possess what they possess. Some may even take it a step further and actually berate or toy with them. They'll cruelly and falsely put a tiny morsel on those weak and impoverished before taking it away once they're about to take it. To show them that they can never have what they desire. To take entertainment in the pain and suffering of those they deem lesser than themselves. Do you see now, my son? Do you see why I must be the ruler of all of Runeterra? Why I must rule over everyone? Unlike those in power in Noxus, I will not allow the weak to be trampled on or ignored. They will serve a purpose in my kingdom and rule. They will be given a chance to become something better than they already are. They will feel pride in being subjects of my rule." Mordekaiser then willed the portal to go away, causing Moxxie to turn to him.
"I…" Moxxie wasn't sure what to say to his father. Hearing the confidence and conviction in his father's voice, along with seeing what he saw, Moxxie was inclined to believe him. "Are…are you telling the truth? Do you really want that and aren't just saying that to make me feel better?" Though Mordekaiser felt slight annoyance that Moxxie didn't believe him fully, he laughed it off.
"If you still do not believe me, then perhaps we can make some changes to your duties." Said Mordekaiser, causing Moxxie to tilt his head in confusion and wonder.
"What do you mean, dad?" Asked Moxxie as he looked at his father, who merely opened up another portal and showed him something else. It was a desolate landscape with red dirt and red skies. Tilting his head at this, Moxxie was about to ask a question when Mordekaiser spoke.
"As you know, I originally intended to have you go back to your mother's birth afterlife so that you can be my ultimate spy there." Began Mordekaiser. "However, I'm beginning to think that perhaps I should send you early, but not as a spy. Rather, I think it would be best to let you go there yourself. To experience something that does not adhere to my philosophy or rule but won't try to kill you at first sight." Upon hearing that, Moxxie openly gapped at him.
"You mean…you're letting me go out again on my own?" Asked Moxxie, remembering what happened last time. Upon hearing that, Mordekaiser shook his head.
"No, unlike the last time, which I will admit was an error in my judgment, this time I will provide you with the necessary tools to survive on your own." Said Mordekaiser. "Money. Clothes. Food. Assurance that you'll feel safe in whatever home you decide to pick for yourself to live in. All will be given to you. I promise." Moxxie felt relieved that his father will not just send him off on his own like last time. However, he wondered why he was doing this. Was he doing this so that he can spy for him? Or was he doing this because he genuinely wanted him to be on his own and decide if he was being honest or not? Or that his way of doing things was the right way for all. His time with Morgana and what she told him about his father had the Imp questioning his intentions. Although she had warned him to not take her word as the whole truth, for she believed that Mordekaiser deserved at the very least a chance to explain himself to his son, he wasn't sure that he can. Not after what she told her of him. What he did and how people thought of his rule. It made him second-guess everything his father claimed he was trying to do or say he was doing.
Perhaps this was why he decided to let him go off on his own. To let him decide if his father was right. That the world and his mother's world needed him as their ruler and not anyone else. Or was this just a way to make him see his way? To make him think that his father's way was the only true way for people to live? Morgana had told him that Mordekaiser, during his rampage across Valoran, was a master of deception along with brute force. Thus, Moxxie didn't know what the reasoning was behind his father's decisions and he wasn't sure what to do regarding this new one. Mordekaiser, upon seeing this, spoke up.
"If you desire another opinion, one that has no true fear of angering me and one you trust, then you can speak to Morgana." Said Mordekaiser as he looked at his son. "You trust her and she has clear disdain towards me. Perhaps having her voice her thoughts will help you decide on what to do. And do not think this is just me attempting to deceive you, my son. This is mere advice. Advice that I think that even Morgana would approve." Moxxie, upon hearing that, thought about it and nodded. It sounded like good advice and it couldn't possibly be him trying to deceive him into following his way of thinking. Morgana seemed to despise, or at the very least, disapprove of his father and thus wouldn't be agreeing to whatever he's suggesting without good reason. So, he can trust her to be a reliable outside source of advice for something like this.
"Okay, I'll do that." Said Moxxie as he looked at his father, who just nodded in acceptance before taking off. As he left, Moxxie looked at his retreating form, wondering on what to do and what kind of man his father was. Was he the noble ruler that he originally thought he was before meeting Morgana or the tyrant that the winged woman claimed he was?