Hey everyone! Hope you been well, thanks for the kind reviews! Also, I agree in my repetition of words most of the time, if anyone knows someone willing to beta the chapters I would be forever thankful in the extra hand. Thanks everyone, lets go with the story!
Also, this chapter is special due to a lore being shown, I hope you guys love League lore as much as I do, because you will learn of it today.
Own nothing of League of Legends, I only own my OC.
Chapter 18. The Tale of Ruination.
Sometimes, a day can be good, sometimes it can be bad. But for a particular therapist the day he found himself in was a huge mess.
Cid was with Ahri looking at the scene on the destruction outside of the Institute, in an open area that was still closed by walls were fighting a woman who seemed to be with spears in her back, throwing spears at a figure that resembled a centaur to Cid.
Both ghostly figures fought the other, and he could hear the screams of the woman.
"Your betrayal ends today!"
Ahri was amazed at the skill of Kalista. She was always impressed on how she moved while attacking. Never missing a step. She was a pain to fight against, but she always thought it was a work of art to see her fight.
Hecarim laughed at her. The spears embedded in him seemed to not hurt him.
"You think those pointy sticks of yours can defeat me?!"
The summoner spoke to them.
"They saw each other and started to fight… normally we keep Kalista and Hecarim separated, but they were in clashing teams today and when the match ended well.. this happened, we had no option but teleport them outside or they would destroy the place"
Cid nodded. But his attention was in the woman. She was focused. And he noticed it seemed she had something planned.
"Ahri… do you know someone who can help stop them?"
Ahri was in thought for a moment.
"A tank would work wonders, are Zac or Nautilus available? Ornn or Volibear could stop Hecarim, maybe even Darius or Garen"
The summoner sighed.
"We thought the same, but they are all in a match, we were hoping the therapist could solve this peacefully…"
Cid sighed before pointing to the battlefield.
"I got no magic, all I do is speaking, and for that I need for them to stop trying to kill each other or at least for them to not fight for a moment… is there someone who can stop the centaur?"
The summoner seemed to nod.
"Hecarim can easily be stopped by anyone who disrupts his concentration… but I don't know who could do that…"
But Ahri knew. She just had the idea flash in her head and smiled, knowing the usual result of the one she thought.
"Fiddlesticks! Bring the Harbinger of Doom here!"
Cid nodded. More in trust than an actual confirmation as he had yet to meet Fiddlesticks. But if Ahri was so sure he would agree.
"You heard the lady, bring him"
The summoner sighed. Trembling a bit.
"He… he doesn't like it when we call him out of nowhere…"
Cid pointed to Hecarim destroying a part of the field in the intent of crushing Kalista.
"I doubt it would be worse than this mess"
The summoner sighed. He nodded in resignation and in a purple flash after a few seconds a scarecrow was in front of them.
The figure in front of them was a scarecrow, but Cid noticed how he was with some crows around him.
"What have I said about teleporting me…."
In closer inspection he was sure he got the known smell of rotten meat. Fiddlesticks smelled like the death… and his scythe didn't help either to feel he was peaceful.
The voice muffled by what seemed earth and hay muttered at them. Cid walked forward pointing at Hecarim.
"I apologize. But think you could stop him?"
Fiddlestick looked at Cid for a moment.
"You… you fear… yet you don't… interesting…"
Fiddlestick looked at the direction the human was pointing and saw Hecarim. He smiled in anticipation of the fun. It was always fun to make Hecarim run around in fear.
"Ah! The Shadow of War… always fun, yes of course I can stop him, even better I can make sure he stays in the floor…give me a second"
Fiddlestick stood still, suddenly he stretched his arms to his sides, he held his scythe in place. A second later, he was between Kalista and Hecarim, crows surrounding him and as he laughed maniacally he ran at Hecarim, laughing while moving unnaturally fast with his legs of wood. Cid was surprised at how suddenly the imposing figure of Hecarim seemed to cower in fear against an enemy much bigger than Fiddlesticks.
A few seconds of chaos later, and Hecarim found himself on the floor after crashing straight with a wall. Knocked by his own speed trying to run away from Fiddlesticks.
Fiddlesticks laughed looking at Hecarim in his feet.
"No weapon cuts deeper than fear!"
He kept laughing maniacally before walking close to them.
"I did my job master, now send me back"
Cid noticed the heavy sarcasm on calling the summoner as a master. The summoner nodded trembling. Before being teleported Fiddlesticks looked at Cid.
"What's your name?"
He answered simply at him, never looking to the sides.
"Cid"
Fiddlesticks laughed once again.
"I will remember it, thanks for the fun"
In a purple flash he was gone and Ahri chuckled.
"Well, he didn't toss you a crow, so I would say you are good in his book"
This left Cid asking himself various questions, but for now they had a job. As they walked forward they focused on Kalista who was walking slowly against Hecarim. Spears still at the ready.
"Kalista, don't do it"
Ahri was the first to speak as Kalista looked at them.
"There will be no mercy for the likes of him Fox… now don't try to stop me, he had it coming for a long time…"
This time it was Cid who got in the middle of Kalista and Hecarim.
"Don't… I don't know how things work here, but I know you are not supposed to kill this guy if he is a Champion"
Kalista sneered.
"He is undeserving of the title!"
She looked at him for a moment and then pointed her finger at him.
"Now, move so vengeance can be delivered"
Cid stood still but not by fear, rather by conviction on solving the problem.
"I don't thing getting vengeance will give you peace Kalista… plus I would appreciate you not getting punishment for killing Hecarim"
Kalista looked with dead eyes at him.
"Why would you care?"
Cid smiled.
"You don't seem evil to me at all, if anything, you appreciate life"
The summoner and Ahri were surprised for a moment. But they didn't question him. Cid wasn't even sure, but Kalista reminded him of Yorick, they were similar, even in the way they looked, he decided to take a bet.
"You are like Yorick… you appreciate life in any shape, I mean, during this whole fight I never saw you stepping on the flowers… if anything you were always fighting Hecarim in barren terrain"
Ahri and the summoner saw around, and he was right. Kalista had fought around the barren terrain, even know her feet were not stepping on the flowers.
The most surprised of all was Kalista.
"So… that doesn't prove anything… and who is this Yorick? I don't know him…"
Cid smiled. He had done it. She wasn't focusing on Hecarim.
"He was from the blessed isles, now they are the shadow isles though. But he is the one who survived"
Kalista eyes opened at this. A survivor of the isles was alive. Maybe he could have some answers…
"Can you tell me more about him?"
Cid smiled and nodded.
"Sure, we can look for him, I'm sure he will also enjoy chatting with someone who knows of the isles"
Kalista nodded and started to walk behind Cid who was making his way back to the Institute. With his hand, he motioned to Ahri who got the message. She looked at the summoner and spoke.
"Take Hecarim away from here, who knows when he will wake up. Cid will deal with Kalista"
The summoner nodded quickly while focusing to teleport Hecarim away.
Ahri rushed to Cid and got her arm linked with his.
"Good thinking there"
Cid smiled and nodded at her.
"You were the one who thought about getting Fiddlesticks though"
Ahri giggled before motioning for Kalista with her tails.
"How did you know she would feel interested in the shadow isles?"
Cid chuckled speaking in a whisper to Ahri. Kalista was walking behind them with simple steps keeping her distance as if protecting herself from a possible betrayal from them.
"I didn't, but she sort of looks like Yorick, so I took a bet and it worked"
Ahri looked surprised before snickering. She always had fun with Cid.
"I see… well hopefully it works out, I mean the worst part is done right?"
Cid sighed. He knew it was just beginning.
"No… not really, the first meeting might be rough"
As they kept on walking to find Yorick, Cid attention was focused on the way Ahri had linked his arm with his. The morning of the day had been up to a rough start in his opinion, and he hoped Ahri wasn't trying to get something out of him.
Cid finished the sketch of Riven he had been meaning to do. He didn't feel like going to get breakfast. After he cleaned himself up he simply took the chance to stay in the office. He needed a bit of time to think about what had happened last night with Sona.
But sadly things never go like planned as much as we could want.
Ahri entered without knocking. The door had been unlocked in case someone needed therapy. He didn't get a chance to speak before Ahri locked the door and came to sit on the couch. Before Cid could even ask what happened she spoke quickly and he noticed the pain in her voice.
"I saw you and Sona yesterday"
Cid world froze for a moment. Many things could be expected to hear from a patient in a therapist office. Just he never expected to hear someone speak of something he was still trying to grasp himself.
Cid tried to keep focus. But failed, and it was noticeable in his speech.
"Oh…"
Ahri eyes were surprised. She was expecting for him to deny it or ask about how she knew it. Yet he was surprised. Simply surprised. No intent on hiding it.
"I… I see… so you also heard the concert?"
Ahri nodded. Her tails were starting to surround her, making the cocoon Cid was used to seeing as her way to keep herself safe. She was nervous.
"Yeah… she really cares for you"
Cid nodded. And Ahri took notice of the warm of his voice as he spoke, especially because he sounded pained.
"She does. Doesn't she?"
Ahri was surprised. This was being easier to speak than she thought about, she was expecting for Cid to deny everything, not just admitting it. And a part of her was getting angry at it.
"Why aren't you angry? I saw you two… I saw how she kissed you. I saw how much affectionate she was, I saw the hug… I saw everything… Why aren't you angry at all?"
Cid was silent for a moment before sighing.
"Because you are sad… you are angry but more than that you are sad… why?"
Ahri didn't even notice when she started to tear up.
"Because I'm a monster! I told Sona to tell you how she felt! I was the one to motivate her to do all that! And I'm jealous! Why is Sona able to get so much affection?!"
Her outburst released her energy and foxfire started to surround her. Cid kept calm. He didn't speak as Ahri looked with anger at him, jealousy was a horrible thing. He knew how it hurt the soul, how it started to eat it and replace with anger. He knew.
Because he had been the same after the battlefield…
He hated the happy people of Demacia. Those ignorant of the look of the battlefields, they who lived in comfortable luxury without knowing what happened to those on the battlefield. They judged him. And he always hated them….
Or he did.
But with knowledge and time, peace came to him.
So, he let Ahri scream and let her anger out. She needed to do that before she could think. The runes in the room would stop sounds from getting out, or from anyone else listening. Cid saw with sadness the rage on the face of Ahri as she spoke of the monster she was. Of how she was unworthy of having love if she was like that.
How she would always be cursed with being the Nine-Tailed Fox feared by everyone, how she would always be the monster who fed on life. A cursed existence with no past, with no family an existence of plain survival.
Cid spoke bluntly after a while making the foxfire surrounding her to go off.
"Monsters can't cry Ahri. And that is what you are doing"
Ahri gasped at the words and felt her face.
She was crying, endless tears were flowing from her eyes. And she started to sob as her tails hugged her. She hugged her knees to her chest. Ahri golden orbs were full of tears that seemed to be rivers.
Cid stood up. He had already too many problems on his mind, but he knew what to do. Still, it would go against the rules on how to deal with a crying patient. But he had already made a mistake. So another mistake wasn't going to kill him he hoped.
He hugged Ahri tightly. She hugged him immediately and her tails enveloped both. The tails acting as a barrier to stop Cid from retreating of the hug. She sobbed and kept going and Cid just let her. He let his hand make small circles on her back trying to soothe her.
Ahri would have laughed thinking how just in the night she had soothed him as he was speaking in his sleep. Now their roles were reversed, and he was soothing her. She didn't want to feel bad. She didn't want to have so much anger in herself. But the most important part she didn't want to feel like a horrible friend to Sona.
As she kept sobbing Cid simply kept Ahri close. She needed to let it all out. He had been in a similar shape in Demacia. It all ended with him on the floor alone while cursing everyone. Not a good memory.
And so now Ahri looked exactly like he had look on that day. Except he would have given everything he owned, the few things he had back then. For someone who would have told him everything would go well.
"It will be all right Ahri… you are not a monster… you are just… Ahri, the Nine-Tailed Fox… my friend… you are not a monster"
He felt the crushing strength of Ahri actually hurting him.
"Don't lie… don't you dare lie to me right now…"
Her sobbing made her hiccup and as Cid got his breathing in place before speaking again he couldn't stop to think that maybe she was even more hurt than he had been in the past.
"I don't lie… I'm horrible at it"
Ahri couldn't avoid giggling even as tears kept flowing, as the sobs on her voice made her hiccup. She couldn't stop feeling the honesty on his words. She knew the one she was hugging was that weird being that often evaded many.
An honest friend.
"Right… You are a horrible liar…"
Ahri kept sobbing but she wasn't hurting him in the hug. Cid wasn't sure how much time passes with them in that position. Ahri had stopped sobbing but she kept hugging him. Her tails were enveloping both devouring any space that was left. He could only remember how Sona wasn't letting him go away…
He hugged Ahri a bit more before trying to separate. To his surprise, the tails of Ahri seemed to let him retreat.
Ahri golden orbs were still with some tears on them. Cid took a cloth he used to clean his glasses, now it was wiping the remaining tears of Ahri face. She giggled when he removed the tears on her whiskers. She looked a bit happier. It was obvious that she was still saddened by the whole experience. But at least the worst part in Cid opinion had passed.
She had let it all out. And now it came the drainage.
Ahri smiled as she fell on the couch.
"I'm tired…."
Ahri was surprised at how drained she felt. And Cid simply nodded.
"That's normal. You were crying for a while, you need it to let out all the anger… is never good to keep things bottled up"
Ahri was about to retort but Cid beat her to it.
"Don't try, seeing me and Sona wasn't the first thing, you probably have been keeping things bottled up for a while… the question is why?"
Ahri chuckled feeling the tiredness in her body.
"Who was I supposed to tell? Is not like you can just go and tell everyone what happens… not everyone is kind Cid… and some will make use of every weakness they find…"
Cid sadly nodded at her words. He considered how many others in the Institute were like Ahri. Keeping things bottled up inside of them, waiting for a chance… waiting for a hand willing to help. Ahri was just like the others. Holding her own. Waiting and hoping for the best. Fighting the world alone and hoping no one could see the signs her castle was falling apart, stone by stone.
When was the last time Cid had seen someone like Ahri? Someone like himself? A castaway, trying to hold itself to its raft, when was the last time he had been on time? Been the boat to help save that castaway whose raft was being destroyed…
When was the last time he saw someone who felt so lonely that jealousy and hatred had started to grow in them and destroy them from the inside…?
When did he become able to notice that sadness?
And it came to him. He became a therapist to help people who found themselves in the place he had been. A castaway. Surrounded by a sea of people, and yet was so lonely with his thoughts that this started to poison his soul. Destroying his hopes and dreams…
And now. Now he was helping someone who reminded him of that day…
Suddenly Cid thoughts were broken by Ahri laughing.
"I…I don't know why… but I feel that when I'm with you… everything becomes insignificant…"
Cid smiled.
"I'm a therapist. I'm supposed to be able to help you relax and feel better, I have to be able to help you let out all that hurts you"
Ahri smiled and closed her eyes. She looked peaceful. Cid was about to speak when he took notice of her breathing. She had fell asleep.
She had cried herself to sleep…
"You are just like I used to be…sweet dreams Ahri… I know you need them"
Cid went to his room to get a blanket. After covering Ahri he left the office and left it locked, he did make a simple note for the door saying he would be in the library. Didn't want anyone to wake her up.
As he made his way to the library he felt a memory of long ago coming back. An immature young man who had lost his leg cursing everyone around… a child who came back to a place that wasn't a home anymore.
When Ahri woke up in the couch she wasn't surprised by the room. She knew she was too tired to have moved. What surprised her was the fact she had a blanket covering her. She got the blanket near her face and smell it.
"Cid…. You are too kind…"
She found herself smiling at the gesture. He had left her to rest. Ahri stretched herself making sure all her limbs were without pain, the couch had been strangely comfortable. She folded the blanket neatly before placing it in his chair. She smiled looking at the desk. It was full of sketches and the small fish at the side.
Every champion Cid had met so far had a sketch. Some were simple poses. Others were rough on the edges as if he was debating to change some details. He found some were colored. Ornn looked imposing in his sketch. There was one of Zac and one of Blitzcrank.
It was fun to look at the sketches. Then she saw it.
The sketch of Sona.
Her smile and her eyes full of affection. She didn't feel anger. No, she was feeling happy Sona had someone who made her smile like that. Ever since they met Ahri had never seen Sona smile the way she did yesterday. The way she smiled in the sketch…
Ahri chuckled before looking some of the sketches again.
There were many sketches of Riven. Sona had her fair share too. She took notice the sketches were probably the different expressions Cid saw on them. The different moments they shared. She took notice the sketches of her and Kong.
"… Kong isn't that handsome"
She chuckled, Cid had done a good job drawing her and Kong. It was interesting to see the many expressions she seemed to make in the company of Cid.
She found herself smiling when she found a particular unfinished sketch that caught her attention. Ahri was smiling, her fangs being showed in her smile. A smile full of happiness and cheerfulness.
"Well… look at this pretty girl"
Ahri smiled. Cid had done a good job so far with the sketch… she wanted to see it finished… she wouldn't mind posing for him…
Ahri eyes got fully open, her golden orbs suddenly tried to discard the idea of seeing the sketch. The idea she had just gotten…
She scratched that off and focused on something else. Something not related to the therapist. As she left the office she saw the small note on the door. It said he would be in the library. She smiled thinking maybe she could find him and thank him properly.
"You are too kind Cid…"
After that, she went to look for Cid, when she found him a summoner came to ask for help with a trouble outside.
Cid was focused on the interaction between Kalista and Yorick, once they found him they came to speak in the office.
They had been speaking for a while now.
"So you met the leader of the order?"
Kalista nodded at Yorick question.
"He said he could save the life of the queen… but when I came back she was already dead, and the king was lost in grief.
Yorick and Kalista had formed the story of the Ruination. But so far the ritual itself was missing.
Kalista had been in the quest to find a way to save the queen, but while she was successful in finding a way with the order of the blessed isles, she couldn't make it on time. At this Yorick explained her about the Ruination, the ritual that destroyed the isles and turned them into what was known as the shadow isles.
The ritual was missing. Kalista hadn't been able to see it, when she woke up she was a dead being, walking with supernatural powers in her, the vengeance kept her going, and so she was able to focus that… vengeance was her spear now.
Yorick knew about the ritual, but not what it entailed. But the mist that took so many seemed to have not been able to take Kalista mind away. Neither Hecarim if she was speaking the truth. Yorick was in thought for a moment before speaking.
"We need to see if Hecarim knows anything…"
Kalista looked in anger at Yorick. But Yorick gaze didn't falter. If anything Cid was impressed at how much heavier was Yorick look in comparison to Kalista. His mission was to find the answer and to bring back the isles to how they were. And Kalista vengeance paled in comparison to him who was trying to save the lost souls on the isles.
Silence reigned in the office as Kalista and Yorick kept staring at the other.
Ahri was looking at both of them, she didn't know who was going to lose the staring match, but she felt the heavy pressure. But it seemed Kalista relented first.
"… We will try to get his part of the story… but after that, if he is not needed anymore I will have vengeance"
Yorick nodded.
"I don't see a problem with that"
Cid chuckled. He did saw a problem with that but in the end, surely they would be able to solve it if things went bad.
Ahri decided to speak her thoughts, curious about getting the information on the ruination.
"We are going to need a hand to stop Hecarim though, I doubt he will kindly speak with us"
Everyone was in thought. But Yorick seemed to have an idea.
"The Shadow of War is a problem as long as he can move, but I know someone who can slow him and keep him in place… Does any of you know where to find the Curator of Sands?"
Nasus was surprised at the request, but he was more surprised at knowing that maybe the mystery of the Ruination could be solved. He was curious, and it would be a great thing to be able to record.
As they made their way to the lair in which Hecarim was being kept under the Institute for his behavior. Ahri explained to Cid sometimes the Institute would keep Champions in a sort of solitude, it was a way to punish them she said and to keep them in control.
Nasus observed the small group he was walking with and couldn't avoid speaking his thoughts.
"I must say… is a nice change seeing us working as a group"
Kalista and Yorick didn't get the message until Ahri spoke.
"We don't spend much time together outside of matches… everyone here seems to enjoy solitude aside of the yordles"
Nasus nodded. And Cid kept a record of what they were speaking.
"Everyone is wary of the others in this place... we are all Champions… so I must say it would be nice knowing more of the others"
Cid took note of it. Maybe he could do something about, maybe that was a way for him to help everyone at the same time.
As they made their way to the bottom rooms of the Institute they saw Hecarim circling around the room he was being kept. A summoner was outside of the room, he looked a bit more serious than others for what his posture showed.
"What brings you here? This is not a zone really visited"
Cid spoke first, hoping to convince the man.
"We are trying to solve a certain puzzle revolving Kalista, Yorick, and Hecarim. So we need to speak with him"
The summoner looked at the group.
"What brings The Curator of Sands and The Nine-Tailed Fox here?"
Cid answered without a doubt in his voice, he needed to show confidence to the man.
"They are a way to keep Hecarim in place should he try anything"
The hooded figure seemed in thought before nodding.
"Be careful then, the Champions can keep themselves safe, but the Institute holds no responsibility for you in here sir"
Cid nodded. He know had a new bit of interesting knowledge. He would have to avoid this part of the Institute then.
As they entered the room, Yorick summoned a wall of ghoulish figures around them. Hecarim had tried to rush against them and failed to bypass the wall of Yorick. Nasus looked at Hecarim, and with a gesture of his hand, the centaur-like creature started to look tired.
"I hate you… and your powers…"
Nasus smiled as he looked at the Shadow of War who couldn't run.
"The feeling is mutual...Shadow of War"
Kalista was forming a spear until Cid placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Wait… we need to ask him first"
Hecarim looked at the human who had stopped Kalista from attacking. He also took notice how the Nine-Tailed Fox seemed to be protective of him. She was standing behind of him looking ready for conflict if the orb of energy in her hand was a sign of anything.
Cid spoke looking at Hecarim straight in the eyes. He noticed the features of the ghastly rider.
"Hecarim… you know about the Ruination right?"
Hecarim eyes seemed to light with fire at his words.
"How to forget it! That's the day I became truly alive!"
Yorick and Kalista looked with special attention to him.
"Mind telling us what you know?"
Hecarim looked at them. He didn't have any need to tell them anything… he laughed before pointing at Kalista.
"Don't tell me she doesn't remember? Oh, that's right! I killed you that day! The great general, such a failure no one needs!"
Kalista looked tense, but before she could even move Cid was giving her shoulder a comforting grip. She looked at him.
"He is not worth it… don't fall for his provocation"
Cid looked at Hecarim. He judged by his posture and his speech who he was.
Proud, one for blood, his way of moving before showed he was straightforward in combat… not one to think, but rather one to mock and prove he was better… so he felt he was better… then it might work to fool him.
"She doesn't remember dying by your hand, then again, you aren't that memorable"
Hecarim looked with fury at Cid and before he could speak he felt the pressure of the Curator of Sands power.
"Don't try anything… otherwise, I might get physical"
Nasus charged his staff and Hecarim tensed. He knew better than to get hit by that staff, especially when it was charged. Cid spoke seeing Hecarim lack of concentration.
"We already know what happened thanks to Yorick. We just wanted to confirm the story with your side as you appear on the tale from Kalista. But I guess you are right Hecarim, we don't have the need of someone who is a failure, so we don't need your part of the story"
Hecarim looked with rage at him before setting his weapon at his side.
"You! Do you dare call me a failure?!"
Cid looked at Hecarim before laughing.
"I don't see any other failure here except for you, so who else would I mean? I think you don't even remember what happened that day"
Hecarim rage flowed in him. And while feeling weakened by the presence of the Curator of Sands he spoke.
"You!? You know nothing of that day! I bet you don't know nothing about me either!"
Cid faked disinterest. But inside he was smiling. Hecarim had started to talk and gloat everything. About his origins, how he trained harder than anyone else, how he became the Iron Order Knight Commander.
Cid noticed how Hecarim had an actual evil in him. He was a being who wanted to excel, at any cost. No matter who he needed to kill, or who needed to be gone for him to succeed… Hecarim carried darkness in his spirit…
And it was that spirit that got destroyed and fused with his horse. Revealing what might be the most fitting form of Hecarim. A shadow, a ghost running killing anything in its path to revive old glory. The Iron Order no more…
By the end of the story, Hecarim looked tired. He was gloating the whole time of how he was the survivor of such a thing as the ruination.
Cid felt how angry Yorick was at how he told the story, Kalista, too. But it was Nasus who delivered the hit that silenced Hecarim.
His cane clashed against the chest of the Shadow of War. Hecarim had been sent against the wall and fell on his own weight knocked unconscious.
Cid looked at Nasus. And noticed the hidden anger in his eyes.
"I apologize… I just couldn't keep listening to him…"
Cid motioned for him not to worry.
"Don't… he already had said his part…. I think with this we can pretty much already arm the story…"
Cid looked at the device he had taken to carrying with him.
Viktor recording device. It was time to get to work.
Kalista and Yorick were being kept out of the office by Ahri who was trying her best to distract them. She didn't want them to feel like they were waiting for a long time, but she knew better. She knew Cid and Nasus were piecing all the story after asking Yorick and Kalista again.
Now they were pulling out all the information. Viktor recording device proved to be essential.
Cid had joked a bit at the sound of Nasus hitting Hecarim.
"You hit with a lot of force"
Nasus seemed to chuckle before pointing at the resting staff.
"I can hit way harder given enough time"
Cid ended his sketches as Nasus finished writing the last of the recording. They looked at each other before nodding in approval.
"Think they will like it?"
Nasus seemed to be in thought looking at their work. He looked at Cid before shrugging.
"I don't know… if anything, it will give them closure… I'm surprised at this turn of events…"
Cid nodded before giving the last check to the document they had done, small, made by memories and what they knew…
The tale of the Ruination. The transformation of the Blessed Isles into the Shadow Isles.
Made with the memories of General Kalista niece of the ruined king, and Hecarim the last leader of the Iron Knight Order
The story of the Blessed Isles is one that was hidden in mystery. But to understand the ruination, we must go back and find an empire that none seems to remember. Not even those involved can remember the name of the old empire anymore.
We see the figure of General Kalista. In life, Kalista was a proud general, niece to the powerful king of the empire. She lived by a strict code of honor and expected others to do the same, serving her king and queen with utmost loyalty.
Her king had many enemies, and when the rulers of a conquered land sent an assassin to slay him, only the speed of Kalista's sword arm averted disaster. But in saving the king, she damned the queen. The assassin's deflected blade was envenomed and sliced the arm of the king's wife.
The greatest priests, surgeons and sorcerers were summoned, but none could draw the poison from the queen's body. Even the king's magic could only slow its progress. Wracked with grief, the king dispatched Kalista to quest for a cure. Before departing, she tasked Hecarim of the Iron Order to stand at the king's side in her stead.
Kalista traveled the world, seeking a cure from learned scholars, hermits and mystics, but always without success. Finally, she learned of a legendary island beyond the ken of mortal eyes, a place said to hold the key to eternal life - the Blessed Isles - and set sail on a last voyage of hope.
The island's inhabitants knew of her quest and, seeing the purity of her intent, drew her boat to the shores of their island. Kalista begged them to heal the queen, and the master of the order instructed Kalista to bring her to the island, where they would cleanse her body. As Kalista boarded her ship, she was given arcane words to pierce the glamours protecting the island but was warned against sharing that knowledge.
While Hecarim remained with the king as he descended into grief-induced madness. Gripped by paranoia, the king raged at those who sought to separate him from his dying wife and dispatched the Iron Order to quell what he saw as dissent throughout his kingdom. Hecarim led the Iron Order in bloody suppressions of discontent, earning a dreadful reputation as a ruthless enforcer of the king's will.
Villages burned, and the riders of the Iron Order put hundreds to the sword. The kingdom was in darkness, and when the queen died, Hecarim spun falsehoods around the king, speaking of how he had uncovered the truth behind her death, seeking sanction to lead the Iron Order to foreign lands and earn yet more dark renown.
As stated before, the king had descended into grief-stricken madness, locking himself in his tower with the queen's festering corpse. Her uncle learned of Kalista's return and demanded she tell him what she had found. With a heavy heart, for she had never before broken her oath to the king, Kalista refused, remembering the warning given to her and knowing there was no purpose in bringing a corpse to the island.
The king named her a traitor and imprisoned her until such time she relented. There Kalista remained until Hecarim convinced her to tell the king what she knew. He urged her to let the king find peace, either in his wife returning to him or in finally accepting she was gone and allowing her to be buried on the Blessed Isles. Between them they could assuage the king's madness and bring him back with no harm being done. Hesitantly, for she sensed something amiss in Hecarim, Kalista agreed.
This would prove to be a fatal mistake and would later bring the Ruination.
And so the king sailed for the Blessed Isles with a flotilla of his fastest ships. Kalista spoke the mystic words to undo the veil shrouding their destination and the king cried out as its glittering coast was revealed. The king marched towards a distant white city at the center of the island where he was met by the master of the island's guardians. The king ordered the man to bring his wife back from the dead but was told that trying to cheat death went against the natural order of the world. The king flew into a fevered rage and commanded Kalista to kill the guardian.
Kalista refused and spoke of the great man he had once been, but her appeals fell on deaf ears and he again ordered the guardian's death. Kalista called on Hecarim to stand with her, but Hecarim now saw a chance to realize his long-simmering ambition of replacing Kalista as the king's favorite. He stepped towards Kalista as if to stand at her side, but instead drove his spear through her back in a monstrous act of betrayal.
The Iron Order joined him in treachery, their own spears plunging into Kalista's body as she fell. A brutal melee erupted, with those devoted to Kalista fighting desperately against Hecarim and his knights. Despite their courage and skill, their numbers were too few and Hecarim's men slew them to a man. As Kalista's life faded and she watched her warriors die, she swore vengeance with her dying breath upon those who had betrayed her.
Hecarim and his warriors slaughtered the guardians until a lantern-bearing wrench finally led the king to what he sought - the secret to resurrecting his wife. But when the queen returned to life, she was a horror of decayed meat and maggot-ridden flesh who begged to be allowed to die once more.
Repulsed at what he had done to his beloved wife, the king enacted a spell to end their lives and bind them together for all eternity. His conjuration was successful, but unwittingly empowered by the many potent magical artifacts stored on the island by the order, its power was increased a hundredfold.
A hurricane of black mist surrounded the king, spreading across the island and killing everything it touched. Hecarim abandoned the king to his doom and led the Iron Order back to their ships, killing all in their path as the spirits of those slain by the black mist arose as undying wraiths.
One-by-one, the knights were dragged down into undeath until only Hecarim remained. As uncontrolled sorcery filled him, he and his mighty steed were fused together in a monstrous abomination that reflected the true darkness of his soul…
The rest is history…
The black mist that was the result of the spell from the king still remains as of today. Sadly, the knowledge of the spell of the king is lost… and is by this that the blessed isles came to become the shadow isles…
Silence reigned as Yorick and Kalista were looking at it.
Yorick read the whole thing. He read it and later saw his retelling of the look of the islands, Cid had tried to sketch them based on what Yorick had told him.
Between the work were sketches of Kalista and Hecarim. Kalista observed the sketch of her. It looked like her, but without the lances and her uniform looked complete. Hecarim had been sketched only at the mention of his transformation.
Ahri felt Hecarim shouldn't be mentioned or deserve a sketch.
"He was a character in this story… in a way he was pretty much guilty… but that is for people to judge one day"
Kalista kept looking at the whole story. Finally, she knew what had happened after her demise at the hands of Hecarim. Yorick found a way of peace, but his quest was simply beginning. After all he still needed to find a way to stop the black mist, at least know he knew from what point the whole ritual happened. Maybe he could find a solution in it.
Kalista looked at Cid and Nasus before making a formal salute to them.
It was more of muscle memory than actually remembering it.
"Thank you… you didn't have to do this…neither of you had too"
Cid smiled before shrugging.
"I didn't. But I wanted. I was curious myself about what happened in the past…"
Nasus simply nodded.
"I was curious myself as what happened in the isles… at least the story is completed…but it lacks an ending"
Yorick nodded at them before bowing slightly.
"You have given me an insight and some clues, so all I got to do keep looking…thank you"
As Yorick and Kalista made their way out. Nasus bowed at Cid.
"Thanks for the invitation. I will be taking the extra copy to the library"
Cid and Nasus had made sure to make five copies, one for each of the involved in finding the truth out. Ahri decided she didn't need hers, so she offered for Nasus to have it. He kindly accepted the copy and said he would make more so others interested in the knowledge of the Shadow Isles could have a look to it.
As he left the office only Cid and Ahri remained. The later was sitting on the couch letting herself rest. Silence reigned as Cid started to sketch Kalista and Yorick.
Survivors of the ruination… Yorick was the one who lost his home, and Kalista who lost her life. He thought he could maybe draw a smiling Kalista. But found it hard. He would need to see her smile first.
For now, the image of the proud General Kalista was in the paper. He started to draw something else. Something that brought a smile to his face.
A sketch of Fiddlesticks standing over Hecarim who was on the floor in defeat.
It had been something new…
Hecarim.
He wasn't like Viktor who while seemingly bad was trying to help others… no. Hecarim was always trying to look for himself only. Everything he did was for himself… Even in the end, he was still carrying the darkness inside of him. In his speech, in his actions, Hecarim probably never died in the Ruination, but rather simply showed his true self.
Cid sighed. He wanted to help…. Offer advice to him. But it would be hard… maybe one day he would find a solution to help Hecarim.
Even if he wasn't fond of him, he followed a strict code.
Beneficence and Nonmaleficence.
Help always. Never harm.
He sighed before looking at the sketch once again before hearing the laughs of Ahri coming behind him.
"He looks great, Fiddlesticks look amazing standing over Hecarim"
Cid chuckled seeing it too.
"Is a great drawing, right?"
Ahri nodded before hugging him.
At this Cid tensed before speaking.
"You know I can't date my patients… I will have a hard time explaining that to Sona…"
Ahri nodded still she didn't relent from the hug.
"I know… I'm not asking for a date… nor a relationship… I just want you to keep being my friend and listen to me when I need someone to listen"
Cid smiled before answering.
"That's something I can do"
Ahri seemingly giggled at him as she tightened her hug. He felt her tails enveloping them and actually smiled noticing she was happy.
Ahri tails worked in many ways as a tool to understand her mood. The fact she was hugging him with her tails meant she was happy with the result.
"Well, can you let me go now? I was wondering if I could maybe see Sona and go explaining her we can't be in a relationship"
Ahri didn't let the hug go and simply let her head rest on his.
"Can't-do. I'm feeling comfortable… read me a story, will you? You look like you know many tales"
Cid took notice how she wasn't going to let him go.
"I guess that I can do…"
Ahri giggled before making sure her tails were keeping both close.
"Tell me one where a Fox is the main character"
Cid chuckled at this.
"Rather picky, aren't you?"
Ahri giggled before tightening the hug.
"Less complains, more stories"
Cid sighed before trying to make a story on the spot.
"How much do you like ninjas?"
Ahri perked up.
"Like Shen and Akali?"
At this Cid was surprised.
"Wait… there are actual ninjas in the Insititute?"
Ahri nodded.
"Shen is really silent, Akali speaks more often but she can be scary if she tries… but Kennen is adorable"
Cid wasn't so surprised anymore. Next time who knows, he would maybe see a floating eye that could communicate, or maybe even a living tree…
A part of him shuddered thinking he should not try out tempting luck.
"Well, let us focus on the story, shall we? This is the story of a fox and a little prince…"
Ahri perked up at the appearance of a fox as the main character.
In another place of the Institute, a ghastly being was waving his hook and his lantern. He was going to the library to research something he might not know on torture with his hook when he saw a book that caught his attention.
"Mmm… my name is lacking in here… I was there too"
Tresh, The Chain Warden read the small story with disinterest at noticing he wasn't formally presented on the story. Sure, he was mentioned, he had told the King what he needed to know back then. A shame he wasn't receiving credit for his appearance.
"I will ask for my name to appear the next time they do another version of this thing"
The Chain Warden left the book on the table. Surely someone else could put in place.
Cut!
Well that's it for today, I will be seeing all of you hopefully by next week with the new chapter. Hope all of you are well, and have a good week! Thanks as always for your reviews and for visiting!
Chapter 19: The do and 100 Don't of therapist-patient relations. The Darkin threat. An Introduction to the Void.