Yo here we are! 36 chapters later, 230k words later, and almost 70k views. I am still surprised at how far this has come. I doubt I can thank everyone enough for reading this fic, for passing by and checking it out, giving a review, throwing their fav or follow. Thanks everyone.
Chapter 37: The end of an age.
The only thing in life you can expect for it to happen. Is for things to go badly quickly.
Cid had come to accept the fact that it wasn't life was against you or in favor. Life was life. But stuff simply happened all the time. Sometimes it came in the form of a storm when you were cleaning your clothes outside, sometimes it came in food getting spoiled, and sometimes. It came in losing your home.
At the middle of the night in the Institute, he found himself packing the few stuffs he truly cared for, his sketch books, the coat offered to him from the two groups of the Freljord. He carried in his shoulder the poro who chose to follow him, and he would ask Ahri for help in taking Koi with him… maybe Nami.
The rest of his stuff would be teleported to his new home. A summoner would get in charge of sending his stuff through teleportation. He heard a soft knocking and found himself seeing Sona and Ahri walking inside the office.
Ahri was the first to speak in the silence that had taken place between the three. It wasn't an awkward silence, rather it was a silence common from friends that just didn't want to say anything.
"You done packing?"
Cid nodded motioning for the small bag in the floor. The poro in his shoulder jumped as if to trying to signal he too was ready.
"Yeah… I honestly didn't expect this"
Sona looked at him and signed.
"I doubt anyone expected it… but it was being spoken all the time. We just didn't believe it was going to become true."
Cid signed back at her.
"The Institute of War is closing down. Where you will be going?"
Cid looked at her. And surprise showed in his features at her words.
When they came back from Bilgewater. The Institute was in a state of mayhem. Summoners running all over, and no explanation, when Cid saw Ezreal walking he immediately asked him what was going on.
Ezreal sighed pointing behind him.
"Its official, the Institute of War is closing down. The summoners will be going back to their home countries, and every champion is to go back to their home too… which sucks because it means we are losing all the support we were getting on investigations."
Ezreal looked tired while looking at the group that came from Bilgewater.
"And just when this place was starting to become fun to be in."
He excused himself as he flashed through a wall. Cid noticed the looks in his friends. They were going to be separated.
"Nagakabouros never saw this coming. Or if he did he didn't tell me of it"
Illaoi looked in thought before excusing herself. Gangplank following her in tow. Vayne and Lucian did the same excusing from the group, leaving Ahri, Taric, Sarah, Veigar and Cid alone in the hallway with the people moving around.
"Problem will arise from this, I need to get some stuff, I demand you fulfill your payment of our bargain therapist!"
Veigar pointed with his staff at Cid. He guessed he referred to the chat they had of Lulu. Cid smiled thankful for the distraction and nodded.
"I will fulfill my deal of the bargain"
Ahri who was still carrying Cid supporting him nudged him a bit to get his attention.
"I think we should get you a new leg, do you think Viktor will help us?"
Cid was in thought but nodded. Excusing himself from Sarah and Taric. Taric nodded as Sarah waved at him. They had to see Viktor to get him a new leg.
As the therapist without a leg and the nine-tailed fox walked away, Taric and Sarah Fortune took to walk to the direction of their rooms. During the walk they saw many who were getting ready to start packing too, and many summoners seemingly moving all over.
Sarah Fortune sighed at the mess of an organization and spoke to Taric.
"It is quite the mess in here, where will everyone will be going?"
Taric was in thought observing everyone before speaking.
"Home. Whatever place it might be… I am more worried on the fact they will be releasing the beings of the Void. Is not like they can send them to the Void. And so, will be left to roam free beings such as Evelynn and Hecarim."
Sarah eyes opened in surprise. It was true. Cho Gath, Rek Sai, Kog Maw and Vel Koz would be let to roam free through the land… the Institute doubled as a prison in a way. And now all of them would be let to roam free and bring terror… Pyke would come back surely...
Runaterra had become more dangerous through the closure of the Institute.
Thinking on lighter things to distract herself, she thought on how much she would miss the Institute, having a room and her own space. She loved the sea, but she liked to spend time on land enjoying it with some champions she had come to call friends…
Janna would be missed, she was interesting. She would also find herself missing Jax, as weird as it sounded, she had come to enjoy the boasting of the strong master of arms. Nami too, she would miss the optimism of her. Maybe she would find her on the sea? And she would also miss Taric. He had been a great support to her in the many matches in the league.
"Where will you be going Taric?"
Taric was in thought for a moment before simply answering.
"I will probably won't be well received in Demacia… I could give it a try at least."
He was after all asked to take the journey to Targon to die in exile. They didn't expect him to survive. Maybe he would be welcomed back, and the friendship with Garen could be fixed. It wouldn't be the same, but maybe it could be fixed.
"Will you be going back to Bilgewater Sarah?"
She sighed. She placed her hands behind her neck as if to try to stretch and think of it.
"Bilgewater will have Gangplank and Illaoi in it, I was considering maybe I could go back to bounty hunt, keep exploring the seas, and make the best out of it… I do not feel like I could stay in Bilgewater for a while…"
While they had thought no one had gotten hurt in their small adventure, the people of her crew ended dying against the harpoon of Pyke, and according to Taric some people who didn't take the warning of Illaoi had died, not many thanks to the fact Nautilus had been around to the surprise of Taric.
No one had seen the titan of the sea, going around. He had come to help against the mist it seemed. The few deaths that happened and the deaths of her crew had hit her hard.
The last night the therapist had made her laugh. He made her night a bit lighter, simply by chatting with him the weight had been diminished. She would always be saddened at the early demise of those people. But she had to accept she couldn't do more, and that what she had done was a reason not many others had died.
"I believe I need to travel. Explore more, grow a bit, who knows… maybe find someone to spend the rest of my time with… even my mother found someone in the past, surely I can find a man who will make me company."
Taric nodded. And in teasing that only he could do thanks to his friendship with Sarah he spoke.
"You are not thinking of taking the therapist to the sea with you, are you? Ahri would try to get you across the sea if you were to run with him."
It was meant as a joke. And it ended up surprising him with the result.
"I might take both of them, if that gives me some normalcy in my life."
Taric was stunned. Something surprising, he never got stunned. Not through verbal means.
And he found himself he couldn't deny or question her claims. One couldn't say no when they were stunned.
Vayne and Lucian walked in silence, the latter thinking on how to strike a conversation. He found himself he didn't need to when Vayne spoke first.
"Would you like to come to Demacia? There are many things hiding in the shadow under the light, and another hunter would be appreciated."
Lucian found himself surprised.
"What brought the change? I thought you worked alone."
She sighed.
"The fight with Thresh. It made me see it would have been a hard task alone. Cid mentioned the reason people work together is to do things they can't do alone."
She looked at the floor, in an act that showed speaking about this was a huge deal to her. She had never been one to be social, even less to invite someone to hunt. But Cid was right. She needed to take steps forward. She was not leaving the desire for revenge. But she was trying to change her usual habits.
"I understand if you do not wish to hunt at my side. I can be…"
Lucian spoke.
"Rude, too arrogant, and too proud to a fault."
Vayne was almost readying a silver bolt when Lucian spoke again.
"But I am the same way… I think we can try to hunt together."
He stretched his hand at her. She took her hand and the agreement was set. Lucian understood something in that moment. Vayne grip was stronger than one would think so, but considering the weaponry she carried, it was to be expected.
As they broke their handshake, Vayne spoke as they kept walking.
"You will be under my care"
Lucian looked at her with surprise and confusion.
"Don't you mean, you will be under my care?"
Vayne kept walking. This time a smirk showing in her face.
"No, you will be under my care, I am the better hunter."
Lucian thought maybe, just maybe, the idea of accepting to start hunting together with Vayne was a mistake…
Ahri, Sona and Riven, the small group of friends was chatting between themselves. Ahri had left Cid with Viktor, the latter explaining he was going to make him a new leg, one that could prove no one could destroy it. A piece of glorious evolution he called it.
Ahri only was thankful Viktor was excited about making the leg and not angry at the fact Cid tended to break his leg.
Riven voice brought Ahri out of her thoughts.
"So, are you ready? With this place closing down… it will be weird. I don't know where I will be going."
Riven seemed actually lost. Technically speaking, she could go back to Noxus. But she didn't want that. She had been considering Karma offer to go to Ionia. Plus she knew Yasuo and Taliyah there. She could spend time with them… but would it be right?
Sona wrote her thoughts in paper.
Nasus is going back to Shurima, he hopes to help the people. He considers it will be a hard time judging he and Renekton are still on bad terms. But he believes he can help the shuriman to have an easier time in the desert, he hopes to defend them. Kassadin and Kai Sa are going too, they hope to help against the threats on the desert.
Morgana and Kayle have considered moving to different places, I heard Kayle is considering Demacia and Morgana is considering moving wherever she feels like she can be free. Ashe, Tryndamere, Olaf, Sejuani and Braum are all going to Freljord. They will keep protecting their home.
Ornn is supposed to be considering moving back to Freljord. Fight the fight against the Watchers. Those who belong to Demacia are not in thought about it. And same with Noxus.
The only ones still deciding where they will be going seem to be Zyra and Maokai.
After the long note Riven sighed.
"What about Cid? He is technically from Noxus now right?"
Ahri was in thought.
"He could run away. I mean without the summoners teleporting everyone, getting someone would be a long trip, and I doubt Noxus could get him if he came to Ionia with me"
Ahri smiled. She was eager on trying to convince him to go to Ionia.
Sona was smiling nodding at Ahri, but a part of her felt heavy.
She was afraid. Her friends would be going away, and is not like she could just go and teleport to them. The only one who could go around teleporting himself all over was Ryze. And she doubted he would be one to help her with such a frivolous task as seeing her friends.
But the thing was that. She wanted to keep seeing them.
Had Cid been in Demacia she wouldn't mind going to Demacia. She wouldn't mind leaving her mansion to visit the therapist in his office daily. Because that place had something she didn't experience much in the mansion. A feeling of being welcomed.
A big home, but a lonely one, doesn't offer the feeling of being welcomed. It just a reminder of how alone she was.
Riven in her usual innocence that was the result of seeing the easiest solution spoke.
"Sounds good, would you mind if I were to come with you two to Ionia?"
Ahri perked up at the question and hugged Riven. She was smiling brightly at she kept the hug going.
"Of course, you can come with us!"
Riven smiled hugging Ahri back.
Sona was happy, but she was jealous at the same of how simply Riven could ask that. She wished she could do the same…
"Sona?"
Ahri voice broke her thoughts. She nodded and excused herself. She needed to think.
Cid was in the lab of Viktor. It couldn't be called a room so much as lab. He was making the final touches for his new leg. One he said would fix itself after breaking.
"The materials work with a similar fashion to my prototype for an exoskeleton armor. The pieces look to get together again, they got a memory of what they must make. So as long as the pieces don't get destroyed and obliterated, they will fix itself to form the leg again."
Viktor sounded proud as he made the last details on the leg.
"Lightweight, durable, and self-reparable, this leg should last you until you accept my offer for the replacement of your organs for machines… are you sure you don't feel like getting the new pump for your heart? I can assure you the process is totally safe."
Cid chuckled waving him off as Viktor third arm worked with a laser on the leg.
"Sorry Viktor, I am okay for now."
Viktor nodded.
"I see, is okay though, if you change your mind, just come to Zaun to look for me."
The comment surprised Cid. He wasn't expecting the invitation from Viktor. He didn't really strike him as someone who was into making friends like that. Because that was what he had done. He was acting like a friend saying it was okay to visit him.
"I hope you found the recorder I gave you useful."
Cid nodded. The small trinket had proved invaluable to his job.
"Indeed, thanks for it."
Viktor nodded. He procured something out of his coat. A small circular object, no bigger than his palm.
"This is my project of a communication device. If it works it should allow to communicate through a frequency unique to it, and no matter how far you find yourself, it should be able to contact me in Zaun. Just for those occasions you break your leg again."
Cid nodded in thanks.
It seemed the scientist was hoping to keep his friend.
"My place in Zaun is nothing big. But you are welcome to it. Those who understand the glorious evolution are always welcome at my home."
Viktor didn't wait for an answer as he showed him the new leg. It looked sturdy while it felt light to Cid. It had the same locking system of the old leg, meaning he could simply place it and remove it with little effort. Cid placed the leg in place and tried it.
It was a perfect fit. And it felt great to walk to.
Viktor gave him the small device with a handshake.
"Wherever you got therapist. Know you have a friend in Zaun. Now I am afraid I must usher you outside. I need to order the projects I wish to take back with me, the rest of the old projects can remain here."
Cid nodded at him and left.
Once out of the room of Viktor as he walked through the hallways he was tackled by a small pair.
"Is it true?! You are going away too?!"
Cid looked at those who tackled him, and he saw Annie and Amumu.
He nodded at them.
"I am afraid we are all going away."
Both nodded. Cid offered to take both of them to fish, one last time. They nodded excitedly.
They went in silence to the usual spot, Jax was there with Nami. Cid managed to hear their conversation. He heard the saddened voice of Nami.
"So where am I supposed to go? I can't go back home…"
Jax spoke in his usual tone.
"Then don't… we will find something to do, I mean… we can go anywhere right?"
Nami nodded.
"Hopefully, we will keep being friends right?"
Jax laughed as he took to sit.
"You need to do more if you wish to get rid of me you fish"
She laughed as she relaxed in the water.
"Me? Trying to get rid of you? How would I dare do that to the master of arms?"
Both laughed and kept at it even while noticing Amumu and Annie skipping stones in the water, being mindful of throwing them far away from Nami.
Cid took to sit and Jax looked at him.
"So, where are you going to end up going?"
Cid sighed.
"Honestly, the responsible thing to do would be to go to Noxus, and keep my work there… who knows, surely there are tons of people needing therapy there."
Jax chuckled.
"There are sure lots of people in problems, but the thing is, where do you want to go?"
Cid let himself fall on the floor.
"Anywhere… so long as you guys are there…"
Jax and Nami looked at him in surprise. They weren't expecting that answer in particular. He kept speaking.
"You guys sort of became family to me…don't ask me how, I don't know how to explain it… it just feels wrong going away from here…"
Jax chuckled offering a pat in the back and letting his hand rest in it.
"You weren't here that long, and you still got attached eh?"
Cid nodded. Nami moved in the water looking at him smiling.
"If it helps, we sort of grew to like you too. You feel like a friend more than a summoner or another champion who was around."
Jax nodded at her words.
"Indeed… we knew this place was in the risk of closing down, too much power in one place, the nations want their own back… but hey, I got no nation, so I can ask to go wherever I want."
Nami smiled nodding.
"Technically my home is the sea, but so long as I got my staff I can go anywhere I feel like going!"
Both looked at Cid and Nami spoke first.
"You can go wherever you want too in the end, I mean, I doubt Swain will really hold you to go back to Noxus right?"
He was in thought and sighed.
"Technically he could, I mean I am a citizen of Noxus…"
Jax chuckled.
"Try to be a little selfish, would you? Choose whatever place makes you happy… oh and be sure to tell us, we can't try to tease you if we don't know where you are going."
Cid ended up smiling. He ended up smiling more as he heard Amumu laughing at how he managed to skip a stone farther than Annie. Cid chuckled. Technically Amumu never got tired, Annie had a human body, so it was normal for her to get tired.
He wasn't going to tell them though, better make them believe he had gotten better than her. Even if for a while.
They were right.
He could go anywhere he wanted…
"You done packing?"
Cid nodded motioning for the small bag in the floor. The poro in his shoulder jumped as if to trying to signal he too was ready.
"Yeah… I honestly didn't expect this"
Sona looked at him and signed.
"I doubt anyone expected it… but it was being spoken all the time. We just didn't believe it was going to become true."
Cid signed back at her.
"The Institute of War is closing down. Where you will be going?"
Cid looked at her. And surprise showed in his features at her words.
"I am going with you two. Someone has to make sure you stay in line Cid."
Cid was surprised, he tried to sign when she placed a finger in his lips. Mischief in her eyes. She removed the finger and signed.
"My home is where my friends are, if Demacia minds me going away, they can surely send someone for me until then, I will be with you for a while."
Cid smiled at her and brought her into a hug. At the same time, Ahri hugged both, forcing the small poro to jump over her head. All smiled in the comfort of the hug. They walked carrying their stuff.
Close to the summoner, they were walking to Cid saw Drave and gave him a letter.
"Mind giving it to Swain?"
Draven nodded with a smile.
"Not at all, take care. I am sure we will be seeing you again."
Cid nodded.
"Me too."
In a flash of purple, the nine-tailed fox, the maven of strings, and the therapist of the institute went away. Draven opened up the letter not really caring if Swain got angry at him opening it, he did feel curious about it.
I am taking vacations.
I need time for myself, for a long time, I been helping everyone. And I mean everyone. Who needed therapy, who needed my help, even those who didn't really needed me, I would end up helping them.
But in the end, I too need help.
I been denying myself of this help. And I think is time for me to help myself. Give myself the time to accept I am worthy of getting help.
This is not me deserting at all, is just a vacation leave.
And extended one.
Hope you do not mind. But if you are looking for me. I will be in Ionia, if I recall Cassiopeia would be there for a season, right?
Thanks, and I apologize for any inconvenience this might cause.
Cid.
The only thing sounding through the hallways as people walked to move their stuff, was Draven laugh filling the halls.
Cut!
Well, this will be a good point for me to take a rest, and work on my other fanfics, I am not leaving the story, but you do need to remember, I am working on this for pure love to League of Legends. And once again, thanks everyone, I had an awesome time so far, and hopefully I will keep having it. Thanks to all of you who come and read this story! Thanks everyone!