Yo! Hope everyone been well! Let us all enjoy this chapter with a focus on a really strong champion, Talon.

Chapter 31. The missing Blade.

"Come on, don't make this harder than it needs to be"

Cid spoke with calm to Talon.

"I think you misunderstand your position therapist"

Cid sighed. He knew it was going to be hard to speak with Talon, but it was a thing he had to do. According to Cassiopeia, Talon wasn't the same since long ago. Cid took it as his own way to deal with the pain of losing the most important figure in his life. General Du Couteau.

"Ever since my father disappeared… things became hard sure, but I think the one who took it the hardest was Talon"

She moved around motioning to a portrait. It was smaller, and it wasn't hanging in the wall. The painting had Cassiopeia, Katarina and Talon in it. All much younger but identifiable.

"Talon adored my father… and his disappearance hit him the harder… he just became who he is now… a rather cold person… he cares of others sure… but I think time stopped passing for Talon when my father disappeared"

Cid nodded and spoke to Cassiopeia.

"Then I will make time move again for Talon"

Ahri had been silent the whole time and nodded.

"You are going to stay here then… I will make sure to tell the Institute"

Cid nodded at Ahri and smiled at her.

"Don't worry, what's the worst Talon can do? Get me in a trap?"

And so, he did get him in a trap.

To deal with Talon, Cid decided he would speak with Talon about it and solve it. Of course, this all was before Talon thought he was being nosy and hanged him upside down using a trap with knives. His leg was hanging in the rope as the rest of his body was free but in the air.

"Talon… how old are you?"

Talon was many things. One of them was creative in the use of his tools, his skills too. What he wasn't good at was remembering stuff without importance.

"I don't know"

The worst part was that judging by his deadpan tone, Cid knew Talon was not kidding. He didn't look like the type to play jokes. Talon literally couldn't remember his age.

"Okay… you seem young but not a teen nor an adult fully… I will go with twenty's… so why not act your age and release me from this so we can chat. What do you say?"

Talon for a moment looked in thought. Without a word he left walking away through the many paths, the streets of Noxus offered him.

While he made his way through roofs and small streets he was trying to understand what the therapist wanted with him. He had come to try to have a conversation. He wasn't one for conversations. That was what made his missions great. Dead men wouldn't make conversation.

But the therapist had been refusing. Keeping up his speech with him until he had been forced to guide him to a trap to stop him from following him.

He didn't want to speak of the general…

He just wanted to be left alone to keep with his mission of surveying the city.

That's all…

Cid was meanwhile trying to reach for the trap. Surrendering, he decided to do something foolish and stupid. He raised himself in position and removed the safety that kept his leg in place.

The leg he had been given by Lux and was still the same as he was using, had a safety system. Nothing too fancy, but useful enough as to allow a quick removal of the prosthesis to clean it and remove it when sleeping.

He never thought he would use it to get out of a trap. Needless to say, the fall had hurt as he fell on his back.

"Dang it!"

The pain had been a constant in his life. Nothing he wasn't used to. But surely something he preferred to avoid. As he got his sense of balance back and felt the blood getting out of his head he breathed looking at the way his leg was still hanging.

"Guess I stepped too far"

As he looked around the place he found the rope that activated Talon trap. He removed the knot to make his leg fall. Once with his leg back on place, he decided he would have to find Talon again. Not without doing something first…

Back in the streets of Noxus Talon was entering a tavern. Simply put he felt like hearing people. People would always spill their guts. Literally and figuratively in a tavern. Secrets were spilled, and deeds were spoken. No better place to get information freely existed. Of course, rumors were always a thing like lies, but the trick was to check every bit of information.

Talon was trying to hear everything going on.

"Heard of the old lady? Seems the blacksmith has a thing going with her"

"I caught a bandit today, the boss said we had to let him go, something of stealing bread wasn't a crime, rather it was the baker fault for not being fast enough"

"I heard Draven is in the city, better not piss him off"

"You won't believe it, man, they said we are going to become allies with Ionia…"

Many voices, many levels of drunkenness. Some loud, some whispers. But nothing too big…

Talon was about to go out when he heard the loudest voice in Noxus entering while kicking the door of the tavern.

"Draaaaveeeeeeeeeen! Is home! The next round is a courtesy of me everyone! Drink in the glory of Draven!"

Some of the people groaned at the man, the more used patrons cheered at Draven presence in the tavern. Talon was one of which groaned in protest. But before he could move from his place he felt an arm over his shoulders. As it carried no malice or intent Talon had been unable to feel it.

"Hey! Good to see you! Draven was kind enough as to tell me where to look for you"

Seeing the glasses of the therapist, Talon felt a mix of anger of and disapproval at knowing Draven just told the therapist of the places he would visit. Did none of them could leave him alone?

"I thought I was clear with you…"

The therapist chuckled while being offered a mug of alcohol that he had to pass by to a man close to him.

"Well you did leave me hanging, but I don't hold it against you, so…. What are we doing now?"

Talon raised an eyebrow under his hood as he heard the therapist.

"We?"

The therapist nodded at him. The smile never leaving his face as he spoke.

"Of course! You and me, Cid and Talon, or Talon and Cid… you can take the lead really"

Talon was getting frustrated he stood up and left. What he wasn't expecting what was he heard.

"Ha! Who cares about those generals, all the generals that are lost are like Du Couteau, death!"

The man had been loud. And that only made it worse for him. Cid could see the obvious anger and tension in Talon. The man was as good as dead.

Or would have been had Draven not thrown a bottle at the man knocking him out and leaving him drenched in alcohol.

"Hey! No speaking badly of the army of Noxus, my bro is there!"

The patrons and others cheered at Draven who started showing off at the praise. Cid relaxed. But the anger of Talon never faded. Cid sighed before patting Talon in the back breaking his focus on the unconscious victim of Draven marksmanship.

"Come on, surely you got places to be, right?"

Talon nodded and left the tavern. What he was hating was the constant sound of the footsteps of the therapist close to him.

"Surely you got places to be therapist… right?"

Cid nodded.

"Indeed, and the fun part, is that the place I need to be the most is by your side"

Talon showed indifference and kept moving. If he wanted to follow him, he was welcomed to try. At the first chance he had, he took to the roofs and kept walking. Yet even if he couldn't see him, it seemed the therapist was able to discern his location. Talon moved between corridors and roofs, never staying still. And while he made the distance from the therapist, every few moments he would hear the steps.

The steps of a leg that was obviously not real. The creak of his shoes against the path. The sound of the metal rim glasses whenever they slipped. The therapist was a sea of sounds that made him different from the others in the streets.

And it seemed he was able to keep following him. Trying to feint him he decided to stay still in one big roof. He heard nothing. No steps. No movement. Just people moving, but not the movement of the therapist. He smiled to himself at this. But before he went away he heard a voice speaking from below.

"Are we taking a rest? Because just so you know I don't mind"

Talon decided to confront him. With swiftness and agility, he went down and looked at the therapist.

"How?"

Cid shrugged. Optimism and a smile never leaving him.

"Sorry, but against contrary to the popular opinion, I don't read minds, you need to be more specific with your questions"

Talon thought that maybe the therapist would feel more cooperative after a knife ended in his foot. But deciding to anger Swain with such a rash act he simply spoke again.

"How are you managing to follow me?"

At this Cid chuckled.

"For someone so great at moving around, you seem to lack a perception that I am never left alone in this city, I have an escort with me the whole time remember?"

Talon immediately opened his eyes at this. It was true, the therapist could not be alone in the city. That meant someone in Swain confidence had been asked with escorting him as long as he was in the city… but who….

It didn't take him long to figure who had been helping the therapist at following him.

"Katarina…."

Cid nodded as in a fast and silent movement Katarina was at his side.

"Talon is nice seeing you, what a coincidence isn't?"

Katarina's voice dripped with sarcasm and mockery. The same tones one would use with a member of their family after beating them in a game.

"What do you want?"

Katarina crossed her arms, the smugness of her old expression fading turning to one of seriousness.

"Me? Nothing, Cassiopeia though, she wants her brother back"

Talon raised an eyebrow not understanding anything.

"How many times have you spoken with any of us out of work?"

Talon was in thought. He was sure he said his greetings to Cassiopeia in the morning… but the morning of which day had it been? Last week? No, last week he had been elsewhere…

"The answer is none Talon. Cid here just wants to chat with you. So, we can keep playing this game of the cat and the mouse or we can speak… your choice"

Talon nodded at Katarina. In a burst of speed, blades reflected the light all around them and Talon was no more.

"That prick…."

Cid found himself chuckling. His chuckles brought the attention of Katarina.

"You aren't… mad?"

Cid shrugged.

"Is not like we can do much about it, plus you got to admit, that is one cool trick"

Katarina couldn't avoid smiling, indeed, Talon ability to throw all the blades to seemingly disappear was always impressive. Sure, it wasn't like her ability to throw blades at many opponents in a constant flow. But it was impressive in his own right.

"Yeah, it is… sadly though he will be able to keep himself hidden for a while, this time I can't help you find him"

Cid nodded. He looked at his surroundings making a simple question.

"Which is the tallest point in here?"

Talon was in the company of his thoughts and the wind in one of the many towers of Noxus.

Why had Katarina decided to help the therapist? There was no reason for them to be worried about him. He was well. His health was perfect, his reflexes were in top condition, he had never been better. So why were they worrying about him? Why did the therapist think he needed his help?

He was okay. He needed no one. The general had made sure that he was strong enough as to survive the harshest of roads, the biggest of tests, he was made to be the strongest survivor. They shouldn't be worrying about him. Why worry when no one could bring him to his knees? No one would make his blade submit…

"I am fine…"

What was the use of worrying of a blade? Blades are tools. They don't feel, they don't get hurt. They are cold steel that survives the harshest of tests.

"I am a blade for the general…"

Why should they worry?

He was fine.

"Blades are tools for death Talon. But a blade can also be a tool for inspiring others"

The general was that sort of blade. A blade that inspired. He brought him a purpose and a mission. He became an inspiring blade for him. And in exchange, he became a blade for him, a tool of death against the enemies the general could have.

"I wish you were here general"

Had the general been in the city… would he be able to become like him? A blade that inspires?

Everyone knew of the prowess of Katarina in the battlefield, and the Institute of War had only brought her an even bigger status. Cassiopeia was well known for her looks and her smarts. Even after becoming affected with the curse on Shurima, she was still well known, even when she took a time for self-exile away from everyone.

But he? He was a blade, an assassin. When he was invited to the Institute by Katarina, he thought little of it, but Swain words had been final, he would honor the name of Noxus. Swain told him the general would have fought and proved his worth. As much as he wanted to think Swain was simply speaking, he knew the general was the kind of man who would actually face any opponent and prove his worth.

And so, when he entered and had his first match… well needless to say some were impressed at his abilities. Others thought he was no longer a human if he could move the way he did. But the truth was. It was simply skill.

He was a blade. He did the same things a blade did.

Attack, hurt, maim, and end the fight.

He was a blade. Nothing more, nothing less.

So why would he need anyone else…

"A blade doesn't need help..."

"The last time I checked you are a human Talon"

Talon heart almost exploded in his chest at the appearance of the sudden voice. Reflexes had taken over as he spun and threw himself with the intent to slash the neck of whoever had dared to reach him in the tower.

To his surprise, it was the therapist. His face serious, but not angry at any point.

"So… is this how you say hello to everyone? Or just me?"

Talon got up, and let the therapist stand by himself. He took to look at the city again from the top. Silence reigned for a while before Talon spoke.

"How long?"

Cid spoke in a serious tone while relaxing in the top of the tower they were in.

"Pretty much since you started speaking alone… you sure you don't want to chat?"

Talon was silent as he saw the city.

"I am sure…"

Cid sighed as he took to sit on the floor and look at Noxus.

"Live and die by the blade… general Du Couteau was a man firm and loyal… loyal to the military, loyal to his family… a true man"

Talon seemed to simply keep his focus on the city, but Cid knew better.

"The man was your father… and there is no need for blood to become family… I like to believe Talon… that I got a family in the Institute… because I sure don't recall much of my own family"

Talon never motioned any interest. And Cid kept talking.

"I heard from Katarina details about you, and I would have preferred listening to them from you, but I will do my work…"

Cid sighed before looking to the city.

"You are free… you worked for Du Couteau, and he is no more, essentially you are free, but you stay in this city, you stay in this place. You look for the clues about the disappearance of the man that is your father. He wasn't just your general and master, oh no, he became someone you liked. He ended up adopting you into his family. And suddenly the list of blade masters of the Du Couteau family changed, from two to three…"

Talon seemed to tense if only for a moment. Cid wasn't sure as he wasn't looking at his face, only his back as he saw the city. He took it as a queue to keep talking.

"Talon… your family consists of your sisters too you know? They think time stopped passing for you the moment the general went missing… it is their dad too you know?"

Talon sighed before speaking.

"How come they are not looking for him then…"

Cid sighed before speaking.

"Who said they are not? Your sisters look for him in their own ways, Katarina has her own means of information, so does Cassiopeia, they are shadows… you are the only one who is blatantly obvious, going in a quest for clues… Talon… your sisters want their brother back..."

Talon kept looking at the city. Not moving an inch nor saying anything. Cid had said what he wanted to say. So, he stood and went away. While making his way to go back to the bottom of the tower he heard Talon speak.

"How do I go on?"

At this Cid chuckled.

"One step at a time, one day at a time… step by step Talon… I can't promise you things will get back the way they were before… but I know your family needs to stay together"

Talon seemed to acknowledge the answer.

"I will see them later… I need time"

Cid nodded. Talon did need time. While he was surprised he even spoke back, he knew Talon wasn't going to change easily in the morning. It was going to take time. But that was okay. Cid was willing to give him that time.

Everyone needed time…

"Take all the time you need… I will tell Katarina you are resting here, is that okay?"

Talon didn't do anything but wave at him. Cid took it as approval and dismissal. He went away on the steps of the tower as Talon kept thinking of his recent chat.

"General…"

In the silence of that reigned on the tower. One could hear a word that came almost as a whisper. Imperceptible to everyone, but to the owner of the whisper it resounded like a thunder.

Father.

Cut! Well, that was fun to work in! We will see the continuation regarding Talon in Chapter 32. The Blade that believes.

Thanks everyone for your follows and favorites! Reviews are nice, but not mandatory. So see ya soon!