Kaisa sits on a sand dune as she watches a coyote wander across the desert valley, "is he lost" Kaisa asks as she sees it slowly cross the valley, clearly tired. "No, daughter, sometimes those we think are lost are not, they just haven't reached their destination yet. That coyote knows this land better than all of us here, it just hasn't found what it's looking for yet." Kassadin replied to his young daughter as they watched the sunrise. "But Dad, you're the best guide around, I don't think a dog knows more about this land than you," Kaisa replied. "haha, no no dear, that dog lives in the wild everyday, I just venture out from time to time, and besides, I've already found my destination," Kassadin said. "where is it?" Kaisa asked. "You, you and your mother are my destination, and I will alway come back to you," Kassadin replied. "Thanks Dad, please hurry back," Kaisa said as she leaned over to give her father a hug. "I will be back in no time, my little precious peach," Kassadin replied. A tear rolled down Kai'sa's face as she stood behind the memory of her nine year old self saying goodbye to her father for the last time.
She didn't know it would be the last time she would see him, for one week later, while he was away from their village guiding travelers, the Void claimed her home, and she was forever charged, no longer a Shuriman girl, but of the Void. "Father…" Kai'sa said, her voice trembling, hoping that the memory of her father would turn to see her, and maybe except her. Even though she knew this thought was foolishness, for her dreams were rarely anything but remembrances and fears, conversations were so rare in her real life that she rarely even had them in her sleep. Her father slowly stood up and started to turn around, Kai'sa's mind went into a panic as she thought her father might actually talk to her, even in a dream, the thought paralyzed her. Kassadin brushes the young Kaisa's hair as he gets up to leave. Kai'sa freezes as she sees her father's face for the first time in a long time, she wonders what he will say seeing what she has become, but he doesn't see her, he just walks by as if she was a ghost. She sighs, remembering that memories don't speak back as she stared at her former innocent self.
Kai'sa's eyes slowly opened as she awoke to the sound of water running in the bathroom and the light of the early morning sun on her face. Brushing off the memory in her dreams, she slowly got out of bed, worry from what she saw last night still lingered heavy on her mind as she walked over to the bathroom to see what Taliyah was up to. "Hey," Kai'sa said gently as she cracked the door open and saw Taliyah drying her hair from washing in the sink. "Hey, good morning," Taliyah replied. "I need to speak with Azir again, there is something he needs to know," Kai'sa said with a bit of fear in her voice. "Oh, ummm, I was hoping we could leave the palace for the day and see the common people, see the real city," Taliyah said, a little sad at Kai'sa's request. "I'd love to do that with you, but there is something urgent I need to explain," Kai'sa replied. "Hmm, okay, well then… I guess we can go now see if we can get you into that palace," Taliyah replied as she put on her red scarf and got ready to open the door for Kai'sa. Right as she opened the door they both were startled by 4 guards standing outside their door with spears leveled at their necks, "The Emperor demands your presence!" The lead guard said hostility. "Shit" Kai'sa whispered to herself as they put their hands up in surrender.
The guards escorted Taliyah and Kai'sa out of the guest house through the banquet room. Sivir sat passed out with her head bowed over on a table from drinking too much last night. She woke up just in time to notice the guards leading the two out, normal Sivir wouldn't care too much, but she knew Azir didn't play around with people he deemed criminals, and Taliyah did save her life, Sivir sighed at the stress of trying to think what she should do as she woke herself up. Taliyah and Kai'sa continued to be led to the palace, it must have been at least 20 guards escorting the two now, Kai'sa would have been flattered if she didn't know that her lifting a finger to fight them could get Taliyah killed. "Do you know what this is about?" Taliyah quietly asked as she watched Kai'sa contemplating while they walked. "I do, but I didn't do what they will say I did, something else is here, something of the void," Kai'sa replied quietly. "What! Why didn't you tell me?" Taliyah asked. "It was something I saw last night, it's best if you don't know, in case you get in trouble also." Kai'sa replied seriously. "That's not your call…" Taliyah replied. "Yes it is," Kai'sa replied quickly as the guards opened the palace door in front of them. A pair of guards then walked up to them and began binding their wrists with ropes, "Don't resist Taliyah, we did nothing wrong, will be ok" Kai'sa said as the guard gave her a hateful glare indicating he didn't believe her.
The two were then pushed into the throne room with their wrists tied, Azir was nowhere to be seen, the throne was empty, Nasus stood squarely in the center of the room, stoic in his expressions. "LEAVE US!" Nasus boomed out as he commanded the guards to leave them and close the door behind them. Nasus now stood alone with them in the room, "What is the meaning of all of this! Whatever wrong you think we did you must be mistaken! We literally just saved you a few days ago." Taliyah spoke out with a strong will. "Yet five guards are dead, killed with the power of the Void, and are gardener says he saw you leave your room at the exact time of the murders!" Nasus exclaimed "whha, what!" Taliyah said, confused. "Five, I only saw three…" Kai'sa said, also confused. "So you confess to these crimes?" Nasus asked. "I confess to nothing, I will say I was outside late at night, but I didn't kill anyone, they were dead when I found them. Something else did this, not me" Kai'sa explained bluntly. "I have seen far craftier lies over the years Kai'sa!" Nasus replied. "But it's not a lie, why would I stay if it was a lie, you do know I could break these bonds and escape this place pretty easily if I wanted to" Kai'sa replied. "You wouldn't make it far. Step forward, just you!" Nasus said. "Wh why?" Kai'sa asked, her voice showing a bit of fear. "I shall pull the truth from you, if you resist, it shall be even more painful. I just do not want Taliyah to share your judgment," Nasus replied.
Kai'sa slowly stepped forward with his scepter glowing with some strange magic as Kai'sa signaled Taliyah to please stay back. "What were you doing out of your room at four past midnight?" Nasus asked sternly, his voice echoing through their bones as he held his staff. Kai'sa gulped as she wondered if she could dodge fast enough if he swung at her, or what that magic would do to her "umm… it's hard to explain, my suit must consume life to survive, I let it feed on a few of your chickens, I didn't want to but I really had know choice," Kai'sa explained. "Apparently the chickens weren't enough," Nasus replied. "No! That wasn't me! If you examine the bodies, you will find the chickens reduced to ash, the guards were killed, but not fed upon, why would I do that" Kai'sa replied. "Perhaps you were interrupted by a patrol, you have already confessed that you are compelled by the Void to consume life, to the Void there is no difference between a guard and a chicken" Nasus replied. "To the Void, I am not the Void! I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MAN AND A FOWL!" Kai'sa pleaded. "Please, Nasus, she fights to save people everyday, she wouldn't murder anyone!" Taliyah exclaimed. "Even if I wanted to believe you, you give me no evidence of your innocence," Nasus replied. "I didn't kill them, something else is here, if you looked harder perhaps you would find your evidence," Kai'sa replied.
"Perhaps, but I cannot risk you hurting anyone again, since you have told me that your carapace is influencing you to kill, I will have it removed, your trial will be conducted with you free from the Void's corruption" Nasus said. "NO YOU CANNOT!" Kai'sa cried out, she paused for a moment embarrassed at what she just said. She was being offered freedom from her curse and she was rejecting it, but she knew she was weak without her curse, and she feared being weak, more than the Void itself. "The fact that you defend it is all the more reason to remove it, clearly you are already corrupted, I've seen where that corruption leads, you will thank me one day," Nasus replied. "Guards, come escort this woman to the Bacci to remove her cursed shell, then put her in the dungeon," Nasus shouted out, calling the guards in. "I will investigate your claim of another killer, for your sake I hope you are telling the truth," Nasus said to Kai'sa as the guards opened the door. Kai'sa turns and looks at Taliyah, her face is sad as she knows what she is about to do, and she doesn't like it, but hopefully she will understand. Kai'sa closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then, in an instance she ripped her binds with the sheer force of her second skin, then snapped her helmet on and dashed like a lightning bolt through the guards pushing them aside, leaving the throne room in a split second.
"Kai'sa!" Taliyah yelled as she watched her disappear out of the room leaving her behind. "SEAL THE PALACE GROUNDS NO ONE LEAVES, FIND HER!" Nasus exclaimed. Kai'sa dashes through a few hallways in the palace till she reached a place where there were no guards to see her, she then cloaked into invisibility. She knew she couldn't go outside, the bright sunlight made her visible even when cloaked from the distortion of the strong light, only in the dark was she truly invisible. Kai'sa walks quietly through the hallway when she sees a door open in front of her. About a dozen guards poured out and ran past her, missing her just barely as she held her breath so they wouldn't hear her. Once she was in the clear, she stepped into the door where the guards came from, it led to a large stairway that went to the dungeon. "Probably the last place they'd think I'd hide.." Kai'sa whispered to herself as she carefully walked down the stairs quietly.
"Please, this is nonsense!" Taliyah begged Nasus to call off the guards. "I cannot do that, unlike you, I do not have the luxury to judge people with sentiment… she's only making it worse for her, if she's innocent as you insist, then she should have nothing to fear" Nasus replied. "You're gonna take away her power, before even proving her guilty," Taliyah replied back. "The evidence is totally sufficient to merit the removal of all weapons from her, plus, that power is not hers, no matter how much she thinks it is," Nasus said. "You're wrong! Am I allowed to leave here now?" Taliyah asked. "No, Guards, escort her to the guest house and post guards there to make sure she doesn't leave, keep an eye out for any signs of Kai'sa trying to get in contact with her," Nasus commanded. "Uhg, get your hands off me I can walk on my own," Taliyah snapped to the guard as he escorted her out of the palace.
Meanwhile Kai'sa slowly made her way deeper into the dungeon, the torch lights flickered dimly as she heard the quiet growns of several prisoners begging for mercy. Her suit starts to pinch her as it grows tired of burning energy to stay invisible for so long. She looked around for a place that she would be safe to hide for awhile, and she noticed a large vault door that was cracked open. "Worth a shot," she whispered to herself as she walked over to the vault door and snuck inside. The room was empty, the guard to the whole dungeon seemed to have left in a hurry, probably sweeping the surface looking for her. Seeing the room empty she decided to drop the invisibility and take a look around, the room had many different restraining tables and several different large complex mechanical devices that she assumed were for operating on people, for medical purposes or torture she didn't know. "So you come to finish your work on me?" Kai'sa heard a familiar voice from a dark corner of the room, she cautiously walked over to investigate who spoke to her, she set her hand ablaze with purple fire to make some light and reveal the dark corner the voice came from. To her surprise and fear, it was the God-Warrior Renekton, yet he was not the same as when she fought him, all his strength was drained as he hanged chained to the wall, his arms dangled like noodles from having no strength left.
"I, I never meant you any harm, until you tried to kill my friend and slayed innocent people…" Kai'sa replied sheepishly. "Grr, you're all liars, no one tells me the truth ever… please, end this nightmare for me, end the voices you put in my head…" Renekton replied, his voice sounded exhausted and in pain. "I'm not here for you, as far as the voices, I've fought them all my life, they grow quite when you have something to live for," Kai'sa replied, empathetic of the pain he was in from the voices that tormented him from being dragged through the Void for a brief moment. "Grr, something to live for, pttff," Renekton mocked at the idea, "I never wanted any of this…" Renekton said again. "Any of what?" Kai'sa asked as she crossed her legs and sat down on the floor in front of him, she knew he wasn't going to hurt her being chained to the wall and weak. "What do you care, friend of the betrayer, come to tease me, chained up, in a prison again, just as he put me in a prison before…" Renekton said, his voice trailing off from exhaustion. "I'm currently hiding from Nasus, running from the palace guards, I didn't know you were down here so I'm not really a friend of his like you think I am," Kai'sa replied.
"Palace guards? I'm, am I… Home?" Renekton asked. Kai'sa paused a second as she thought about what he said he must have been unconscious when he was taken down here, "Yes, you are in the capital," She replied. "Wha, what does it look like?" Renekton asked with a glimmer of hope in his voice. "It, It's beautiful, quite glorious, the most beautiful place I've seen… in a long time" Kai'sa replied. "And the Sun Disc?" Renekton asked with peaking curiosity. "Oh yeah, well it's, big, golden, and floating over the city, very humbling to look at," Kai'sa replied in the best words she could think to describe it. Renekton paused for a moment while peace seemed to come over him, as he daydreamed about the capital the last time he saw it in all its glory. "Why are you here really?" Renekton asked, this time calmly. "Um… something murdered five guards last night, it was done with a Void weapon, since I'm the only one they know here to wield the Void, they assume I did it. But I didn't, so something else from the Void is here, I'm just hoping to hide down here till they stop looking for me, so I can go up there, find who really killed those men, kill it to protect others and prove myself innocent," Kai'sa explained.
"Hmmm, you really have fought the Void all your life like you said?" Renekton asked, still not sure if he could trust her. "Since I was nine, yes, I had to make a few hard choices along the way, some I'm sure people would not approve of, but I'm alive today so yeah, the fight against the Void is all I know." Kai'sa replied soberly. "Hmm, perhaps I am wrong about you… the weak always judge the choices warriors have to make to win the battles that need to be fought, when they don't know what it's really like on the battlefield…" Renekton replied. "I definitely know what that's like, most people that I meet me call me a monster without hesitation," Kai'sa Replied, "but, no offense, but you and I are not the same, you slaughtered innocent people that did nothing to you," Kai'sa added, not sure if her comments would make the ascended furious. "Hmmm, you have no idea what I've been through girl, perhaps I was too harsh, but they still are all like sheep that stood in the path of a rampaging Dormun, don't make the same mistake as them," Renekton replied coldly. "The guards should be back soon, I can smell the fresh air from the outer doors opening, there is a broom closet over there, you should hide before they get here," Renekton added with a hint of kindness in his voice. Kai'sa just simply nodded, accepting his advice, she got up off the ground and walked over to the closet to hide inside.
Far to the east of the capital, about one days travel from Vekuara, Kassadin marched slowly through a dust storm with the young Sehla walking behind him, trying to keep her face out of the blowing dust. The hour was getting late, the dust around them shined red from the sunset beyond the storm as they walked over the baron land. "What happened to getting a ride on a Dormun?" Sehla asked. "We still are, be patient," Kassadin replied shortly. "How are we going to get a ride in a dust storm?" Sehla asked. "It's the only way we will ever get to hitchhike a ride on one, those that live on the backs of the behemoths will kill anyone that approaches the Dormuns. But I happen to know they also have a code that says that no blood shall be spilled on the back of a Dormun, so if we climb on one when they can't see us in a storm, We should be safe." Kassadin explained. "I see, so where are they?" Sehla asked. "You hear that sound that sounds like wind chimes in the distance?, that's one of them, they use them because it calms the beasts," Kassadin replied. "Quietly now, we must approach them without making noise, if they hear us they will make the behemoth trample and will never catch up to them" He explained again.
Quietly they marched forward, trying to keep their paces quiet and stable in the strong winds. The chimes could clearly be heard now, along with a low rumble from the beast's massive footsteps, but they still couldn't see it so they kept marching forward slowly. Alas, the silawet of the Behemoth know as a Dormun started to become visible, it's shape was like a towering buffalo but with thick chitin armor plates instead of fur, it's head was low to the ground as it marched at a slow steady pace on its massive, but short four legs. The beast must have been 50 feet tall in the middle, rigging and scaffolding covering the beast's back made a tiny settlement on it. "We need to move now, before the storm lets up," Kassadin whispered. The two picked up their pace to a jog, catching up to the beast fast. Kassadin signals her to follow him as they jog around to the left side of the beast, Sehla is almost dazed by how loud the Dormun's steps were, and it was only walking. "INTRUDERS! INTRUDERS!" A scout shouted from on top the behemoth as they were spotted, a giant whip lashed out just once, not even hitting the beast but making a loud whip crack that made the Dormun start picking up its pace leading to a gallop.
Kassadin knows they must get on before it gets up to full speed and leaves them behind, he sees a loose rope dangling from a pulley that was hanging off the beast's side. Kassadin teleportes up and grabs the rope, a man with a spear is stunned by seeing him flash up to them and throws his spear wildly at Kassadin missing him by a bit. Kassadin then drags the rope down, falling back to the ground "Take my hand!" Kassadin says as the rope stops just low enough to allow Sehla to climb onto Kassadin. Kassadin looks up and sees one of the nomads that lives on the Dormun about to cut the rope, "Hold on!" Kassadin said as he made Sehla grab the rope on her own allowing him to Teleport back up to the deck where the nomad was standing. "NOT ANOTHER MOVE!" Kassadin shouted through the mask, his voice sending chills in all who heard it as he leveled his Void infused blade at them. The Nomad dropped his knife and put his hands up, slowly steping back in surrender. "You okay?" Kassadin asked as he turned his head and saw Sehla pulling herself up onto the platform and getting up on her feet. "Yeah, I'm fine" she replied. Kassadin nodded his head at her, letting her know she did a good job, "We'll be staying with you all for a few days" Kassadin turned and said the the dwellers of the behemoth, he said it coldly implying they had no choice in the matter while he sheathed his blade as a sign of peace.
Not far east of them, Akshan, Najah, Tena, and Jaffa watched the giant dust storm bilow in the distance. "Should we set up camp for the night? Or go around it?" Jaffa nervously asked as he rode on the back of one of the two beasts of burden they had with them. "We'll fall behind if we do…unfortunately" Tena said, riding in front of him on the same mount. "It's not considered wise to walk a Skallashi through a storm, they need clear vision for them to not trip with their long legs" Akshan replied as bits of sand started hitting their faces from the winds picking up in speed. "We are gonna set up camp for tonight, we can catch up with them when the storm passes," Najah said, as she made up here mind and hoped off akshan's Skallashi. "Welp, you heard her, let's get to unpacking," akshan then said. "Every hour we delay is double that time in traveling back, we really should keep going" Tena said, her tone growing inpatient. "So what, that won't mean anything if we die trying to catch up," Najah said. "Grrr, fine, we wasted so much time trying to help this suicidal kid, why did we get the job of caring for her?" Tena complained, while Akshan and Jaffa tried to mind their own business and started pulling tent stakes out. "Uhg, be, because no one else cares about her, and we can… she needs us," Najah explained. "Pfff, she needs a lot more than us," Tena replied.
"Not to interrupt you two, but that storm isn't slowing down and we need your gals' help with these tents," Akshan said, interjecting into the conversation. The two sisters looked at each other for a moment before finally deciding to drop the conversation and go help the boys out. They then all four each grabbed a corner of the large canvas tent and stretched it out, taking large stakes and driving the corners into the sand. "Jaffa come help me with the animals," Akshan said. They walked over to the two Skallashi they owned, the beasts resembled a wildebeest, but their legs were twice as long and they had a large hump resembling a camel's hump. "We need to put these over their heads, so they don't wander off in the storm," Akshan explained as he handed Jaffa a burlap sack. "Do they bite?" Jaffa asked nervously. "Ha, hell yeah they do," Akshan replied. "Here do it like this," akshan said as he gently petted the beast on the neck. With a quick but gentle move he slid the sack over the animal's head with ease, it wasn't even frightened as he tied the bag shut to make sure it wouldn't come off. Jaffa nervously reached his hand out to pet the other Skallashi with the burlap sack in his hand like Akshan did, immediately the beast started snorting at him as it showed its teeth and became aggressive, "I, I don't think he likes me," Jaffa said as he backed off. "Sorry kid but we don't have time for a full lesson here, give me that," Akshan said as he took the sack and then effortlessly slid it on the beast's head without a problem. Jaffa was baffled at this, but the storm was almost over them and Tena and Najah had completed the tent, so Akshan and Jaffa ran inside to join them. "How did you do that? Jaffa asked once they got inside. "If you show fear to them, like they are an enemy, they will think you must be an enemy, because friends don't fear friends, so you must hold yourself calm like you are a friend," Akshan explained.
Kai'sa timidly snuck out of the broom closet, she had heard the guards leave a few minutes ago after they gave Renekton some potion to keep his strength drained. "What did you mean when you said I didn't want any of this?" Kai'sa asked as she sat on one of the tables in the room. "Endless life, I'm a warrior, and I want what all warriors want. To die a noble death, and that was taken from me. I was supposed to die helping my brother ascend, instead I was ascended with him. Now I'm a warrior that cannot die, and will never have peace," Renekton explained bitterly. "I always have held onto my memories to give me strength in the fight, but in your case I think the only thing you can do is find something to live for in the present," Kai'sa replied. "You are hopelessly naive," Renekton grawled back. " Sigh, anyway, I gotta go, thanks for not telling the guards I was here," Kai'sa said. "Hmm, remember this child, as a warriors, you either die a hero, or live long enough to become a villain, don't miss your opportunity to die a hero like I did, before it's to late," Renekton replied, his voice growing somber as what he said put a chill in Kai'sa's spine. Kai'sa does nothing but nod as a reply to what he said as she walks out the door.
She closed her helmet and cloaked herself again, as she slowly walked up the stairs leaving the dungeon, what renekton said troubled her deeply, it was all she feared, becoming the monster people assumed she was. She makes her way through the palace hallways finally making it to the front gate which was shut and two guards stood watching it. Kai'sa sees some outside light shining from the ceiling and looks to see an opening above her some 40 feet, teleporting up to the ceiling window would definitely get the guards attention. Damn it, think kaisa, she noticed a mounted prize buck that was on the wall as decoration, she walked up to it and let out a tiny bit of purple void fire, lighting the taxidermy's eyes on fire. "What is that!" The guards shouted as they saw the buck's eyes glow. Kai'sa reached over and picked up the buck and started walking towards the guards, "ah, ah, De, DEMON!" The guards yelled in panic as they dropped their spears and ran out of the hallway, all they saw was the mount floating towards them with eyes burning because Kai'sa was invisible. "Hehehe," Kai'sa chuckles at her prank as she puts the buck back where it was and puts out the fire. ZZZRRRM, she dashed up and out of the window landing on the palace roof, the sun was setting so she knew she could now sneak around outside and not be seen.
Quietly she worked her way over to the edge and jumped down, landing near the messenger pigeon office on the side of the palace. The sight fascinated her, birds from all over Shurima and beyond, carrying words of love ones to each other, it was sights like this that gave her hope people would win against the Void. The Void has no empathy, no feelings but hunger and the need to survive, people have something much greater to fight for, we have love, they don't, Kai'sa thought to herself as Taliyah's face flashed in her head for a brief moment. "Uhg, I need to see if she's okay" she whispered to herself as she started sneaking back over to the guest house. Climbing up the backyard tree, she look into the window of their room, she sees some of Taliyah's things still in their but she is not, she's probably at the lounge, Kai'sa thinks to herself as she dashes to the roof and makes her way to a skylight over the main banquet area of the guest house. A rush of relief hits Kai'sa as she sees Taliyah is talking to Sivir at the bar, "what are they odds she actually did what they say she did," Sivir asked, (Kai'sa listening through a crack in the skylight above them) "Zero, she maybe rash, cold at times, and not think straight at other times, but she's also loyal to a fault, and incredibly kind even though she tends to hide it a lot. She would never hurt anyone." Taliyah replied. Kai'sa turns away from eavesdropping on the conversation, though she was thankful for what Taliyah said, the words troubled her, she had hurt people before…