Chapter I

Goodbyes Are Never Easy

The wind woke Zachariah from his nap, the fields dancing grass whispered in his ear and the farm boy sat up. He'd taken a break on his walk back from the village to rest his feet, slipping out of his boots he'd dozed off the second he sat down. It had been perfect weather today the sun high in the sky warming the skin at the touch, a cool north breeze making the fields look like sea of grass. Getting up he stretched his bush of sun kissed brown hair stretching his stiff muscles under the pale green shirt three buttons undone and dark brown breeches, his dark blue suspenders that Ma Wesley had given him after her eldest Clark had out grown them, or was it John the second oldest, could have been Perrin or Marians those twins were always getting mixing and matching clothing despite being the same size like it matters. No now that he remembered more awake it was Finn, the youngest Wesley boy who fit him the closet. He'd given them to Zachariah after they had been running through the forest from Old Man Worym's peach farm, they'd been picking for a pie and got spotted by his dogs. The chase was on and arms full of peaches he didn't even notice a loose branch rip off his suspenders he had to drop the rightfully stolen peaches just to keep them up. For his troubles Finn had generously donated his suspenders after Zachariah had nearly lost his pants in the flight. Smiling as he grabbed his leather boots, also hand me downs from the Wesley's they belonged to… he couldn't remember nor did he care as he put them on and started off again back to the farm.

Following the low stone wall over the next height, the rolling hills of Hamlet went all the way to the snow capped mountains, lush woods of Southern Valoran he would explore. Within The old ruins of that keep, all the treasure had been there was long gone from bandits and highwaymen. Grandpa had told him of the stories that the old keep housed, how Noxus once held it as a outpost before a horde of barbarians sacked it centuries ago. Then bandits took up residence before mercenaries were hired to take care of them and in return they settled in the Hamlet. Putting down the sword to pick up the plow they were 5 generations old now and they'd been the most recent to settle here, though Grandpa wasn't a mercenary, an adventurer yes but an old one. He could hear the rooster crow from his coop as he neared the farm. It was a simple homestead, a chicken coop, bath with a old Bess munching on hay, the one proud charger was. He was only a baby when he came, but Zachariah always wondered what was on the other side of the mountains or woods. The great city of Noxus to the east always had carts coming and going to deliver food paging the villagers well. He'd always wanted to see it one day, Maybe the Comptons would let him go on a delivery with them, a journey of three days two on the road and in the middle a night in a city in called a 'Hotel' whatever that was. Then Piltover to the south the city of progress from what travelers told when he and George would hear their stories outside the Dancing Pig, Hamlets only inn and tavern

Crossing through the old gate he'd repaired weeks ago the hinges creaked loudly signaling his return to the animals, no matter how much he tried to oil that gate it created, Grandpa wouldn't even let him- loud thunderous barks of a beast no foul "Oh no Jack not again." Zachariah begged turning to his left to see it stampeding toward him, it's dark eyes locked on target, him.

It jumped with terrifying speed tackling Zachariah to the ground and attacking the poor farm boy with a fat wet tongue. "No no oh Daisy come on-aaaag." Zachariah begged the big yellow dog slobbering over him pushing the dark snout into his face sniffing and kissing him "Get off get ohh-" Zachariah managed to push the dog off before he stood wiping the drool off him a dark stain blotched on his shirt. He glared at the shaggy face that only panted in happiness seeing him "Mutt." He mumbled before he parted the dog on the hair and went to check out the rest of the farm Daisy following him close at the hip. The chickens were all still there, the rooster had kept his vigil with Daisy, the pig they kept was getting fat as a boulder snoring in his mud bubbles popping out of the mud. Zachariah had convinced Grandpa to keep the pig to eat all the junk they didn't eat, it mostly just did that, ate slept and then ate again. Next the garden all the vegetables were coming along nicely, Grandpa's garden the only of its kind with its spiraling plants, black roses, stripped lily's and poppy seeds, but he noticed the carrots were messy, some chewed up. Checking the gate fence he noticed at the back corner behind the house the earth was overturned, rabbits. The damage wasn't to bad a quick fix there, a stone here and onto the barn. Bess the old horse was chewing on hay with their two milk cows Jay and Kay were good cows, best milk in the Hamlet from what the Baker had told him. Bess was the second oldest on the farm compared to Grandpa, Zachariah use to think she was a giant when he was little faster than the wind when he was big enough to ride her. The cows were both gifts from the Dawson, the nearest farm to them after Grandpa had helped their family when they call became had constantly asked if Grandpa had done something to the cows to make their milk sweater and the Dawson's father was always cursing himself when he ate the pastries made from their milk for giving them away, but the old goat never said anything just a wink and smile. Zachariah refilled Bess's oat bag then grabbed the pitchfork to shovel more hay for the cows. "There you go ladies." He said when he heard the lady of the manor speak to him.

Gazing up to the barn rafters, the barn cat Madam was keeping watch overhead from her perch above, green eyes from a blob of brown and black fur a dark ringed tail waving at him "Yes?" Zachariah asked the cat. Madam was another story she'd shown up one day on the edge of the farm before Daisy chased her away, she came back three times till she moved into the barn permanently, putting an end to Zachariah's long standing war with the invading rats of Greenwood.

The cat meowed at him again "You catch your own dinner." He said before he walked out. Wondering if he'd forgotten anything, but nothing came to mind so he walked back toward the cottage. A small building made mostly of stone with some wooden amenities Finn and his brothers had helped him build with Grandpa, a shed for tools, storehouse for food, even a windmill near the main cot. Walking in he was greeted by a cloud of thick pipe smoke and waved his hand to get through the fog. "Grandpa I'm home, I delivered the medicine to the Cobblers like you asked." Zachariah called in looking around the smoke rushing out behind him. The floor was covered in wood with a kitchen and dinning room to the left through there were their rooms Grandpas's and Zachariah's and the right was a large space with armchairs and a large fire place sat in the corner. And puffing his pipe white bearded and a mane of long hair to match, two eyes of silver glistening and lined face of ages reflecting orange embers. When the flame died out holding up a hand adorned with a golden ring, engraved with a dragon wings spread mouth open, a small spark of fire jumped from the old man's finger into the pipe. Despite Mama Wesley's insistence of offering to make fresh clothes for him, Grandpa still wore the oldest clothes, high trousers and old shirts when he could still work the farm. Now he resided to wearing simple robes and his favorite wide brimmed hat when out.

"Ah, Zachariah there you are your late." He prodded.

"Sorry Grandpa, took a break walking home and dozed off I had the most amazing dream." He told him as he knew they were suppose to have practice today. Walking over to the left most wall made entirely of books, some of Grandpa's own writing.

The goat sat up stroking his beard that went down to his belt, standing he followed Zachariah to his desk desk opposite of the chairs where the boy sat down. Opening the old book he could smell the yellow panes looking at the scribbled writing, all hand written turning to the last chapter they were on. "Now do you remember what we practiced yesterday, or do I need to repeat the steps?" Grandpa asked him.

"No, no, I remember." Zachariah said trusting his muscles holding up each hand he dragged his fingers while he drew the runes in his mind making the circle in the air with each hand his hands felt heavy, then they grew warm, the temperature rose quickly he could see his hands start to turn red, breathing hard like his hands were on a stove he pictured the final rune and his hands burst into flames letting out a deep breath the fire in each hand brushed together before become a fireball.

Zachariah looked back at Grandpa "Good, now shape it."

Focusing the fireball in his left hand Zachariah used his right to start the next spell, the spirit the spirit runes were much more complex then elemental, but he knew what he'd make the fire become, repeating the steps in his head his hand began to shimmer, the fireball split and his left hand glowed with a hue of blue magic before he pressed it on the flame. It felt cool to the touch despite how it warm his face, the fire began to take form unfurling around before a slender neck rose and from their a head, a snout underneath a mouth and a hood spreading out, the fangs of a snake, a traveling band of Gypsies had brought called cobra. The Gypsies were a welcome carnival of travelers and entertainers, one was a musician called a snake charmer who played a flute for his pet cobra.

The fire cobra spread its hood hissing at him, Zachariah smiled seeing he'd done it, he'd given life to fire just had to keep the spell stable. The cobra struck, jerking back only to hit a wave of cold hit Zachariah from behind showering him in frost turning the snake to steam in an instance. A chill rushed over the boy and he saw he was covered in snow, looking back at Grandpa, the old man had his right finger expunged the finger thick and purple turning back to the original pale bony digit. He'd cast a snow spell with one finger to douse the fire golem spell "Impressive." Grandpa chuckled.

Zachariah frowned embraced at Grandpa's laugh, "What did you think would happen, you made a snake, snakes bite did you think it would let you pet it?"

"I thought it wouldn't attack me since I created it?" Zachariah asked.

Stroking his beard, Grandpa waved his hand fingers moving softly and the water in the air solidified to form a humming bird made of solid ice, it sped its crystalline wings making a whistling noise "Your skill with elemental magic is already fine tuned, but creating a mimic or golem, out of an element it will take on the attributes of whatever element you choose fire burns, a snake bites, congratulations you made something twice as dangerous as they would have been apart."

"Try again, but try something less, Letha-"Grandpa asked him, he covered his Louth coughing into his elbow before "Lethal." Zachariah did his best to pretend he'd never heard the cough, they were becoming more frequent.

The lesson went on into the evening, he summoned a mouse made of snow before it melted, a grasshopper made of water that splashed him in the face then a raven made of dirt, another mess. By the time was done Zachariah was spent and they prepared to make dinner to end the night. Making a stew from the vegetables in the garden mixing some of the cows milk and some seasoning for an extra kick. Zachariah poured the soup out into two bowls and sat down at the nearby table where Grandpa was already sitting. "Hmm smells good." Grandpa said.

"I added those peppers we got last season." Zachariah said.

Digging in Grandpa poured some fresh water out of a pitcher into cups before he spoke "Have you asked anyone to the harvest festival?"

"Asked anyone, the village only has about a hundred people and we all know each other, half of them related." Zachariah replied, he sipped his cup just as Grandpa had another coughing fit this time more strenuous. Shrugging it off the radar stroked his beard to get it out of the ear of his mouth.

"What about that Wesley girl, she's very fond of you what was her name Jane- Jenny?" He asked downing a large cup of water to wash his throat of the cough.

"Jill." Zachariah refilling Grandpa's cup, Jill was the youngest of the Wesley's, also the only girl unless Mama Wesley was pregnant with another one already. She was a small thing, thin faced unlike her mother with shimmering blue eyes against golden blonde hair like the rest of her family. He'd overheard the villagers talking about what a beauty she'd be one day and any of the boys in the village would be lucky to have her as a wife. Ironically her brothers kept nearly every suitor in Hamlet away. They only tolerated Zachariah because he and Finn were such good friends.

The old man smiled in the candlelight, "Yes Jill such a sweet lass, maybe you-" Grandpa let out a striking cough that nearly knocked him out of his chair. Zachariah saw something spit out into his hand, pulling his wrinkly old hand away Zachariah saw the red patches of blood on the old man's hand. They both did, there was a long silence "When the time comes-" "Don't start that again." Zachariah said getting up to refill the water jar in an attempt to escape the conversation.

"When the time comes boy you need to accept it, I won't be here anymore you-" "Will be fine, I've got the farm, I've got Hamlet all my friends." Zachariah interrupted him and the old man looked at him like he was about to tell him something terrible. A long awkward pause again but different too his eyes the old man's eyes were full of a different kind of remorse "What?" Zachariah asked.

"You can't stay here, there's no future for you hear." Grandpa told him.

Zachariah was stunned, "No future, but my whole life is here?"

"Life yes, but not living." The old man said getting up weakly "Living is out there, seeing the world, experiencing new things, new people studying new magic, there was only so much I could teach you and you can't spend your whole life learning here from books, hiding away here. Your talent with magic is a once in a generation talent, meant for greater things than plowing fields."

Zachariah clutched the counter of the kitchen so tight his knuckles turned white "Tell that to the Wesleys or the Comptons, they've been farmers since Hamlet was a camp."

"Your not a Wesley or a Compton, you're a mage Zachariah and a Mages life is one of exploration within and outside, seeking knowledge, helping the world." Grandpa walked toward him hands out "Magic is a gift to-" " To make the world a better place." Zachariah finished having heard it a million times.

Grandpa sighed "You have a duty to the world, in my youth we mages were sought after god our council, leadership and most of all our power, power that so few can master and be uncorrupted as you have." He said putting his hands on his shoulders "I can't make you accept this, but I will always love you even when I'm gone my boy."

Zachariah pushed his hands off "Make me leave my home, even if I stay and you die knowing you'll be disappointed how can you ask that of me, the villagers love us here your potions cute illnesses, you can heal broken bones and I'm getting better and better at healing magic I'll succeed you here and take care of our neighbors that's how things work here in Hamlet." He walked away again this time to his bedroom doorway.

Grandpa looked even more pained "You don't know how much it hurts for me to ask this, no one wants to see someone they love leave, face uncertainty, danger and suffer-" "Shut up!" Zachariah shouted at him his green eyes flickering in a surge of magical energy.

"You're not going to die, and I'm not leaving Hamelt, this is where I belong!" Zachariah opened the door to his room and slammed it "Can't you understand that."

Grandpa sighed before he coughed up more blood into his hand, walking over to the desk he opened a drawer pulling out ink an parchment. He began to scribble a letter.

I have done as you asked me old friend, the boy has grown strong just like you his talents with magic far surpassed anyone I knew at his age. By the time you read this letter should it ever reach you, I will be dead. Despite years of study in magic I cannot cheat death without forbidden arts and no one soul is worth such a life. We agreed that Piltover and Zaun were no place to raise a child like him, it was why I was honored when you came to me to protect and teach the boy. But I feel the call of the next life, even as I write this. Forgive me that I cannot fulfill the pact we made, his talent of the arcane will draw other magical forces to him, good or bad that why he must continue his journey. I taught him as a boy but I am to old to teach him what it means to be man, I belive only you can do such a task.

Sincerely,

Your friend.

Folding the letter he slipped it into an envelope and sealed it with wax, and sealed it with his ring. He coughed again, Grandpa covered his mouth to stifle his last breaths blood dropping front his finger tips before he pulled out another letter. With a shaky hand he quickly wrote it, addressing it to Zachariah, a final goodbye. Etching in everything left unsaid even while he refused to listen Grandpa felt himself become cold the pipe dropped from his lips as he wrote the last bits and he laid the pin down. Wheezing out Grandpa placed the open letter next to the sealed one and stood up. It was becoming dark he could barely see the arm chair he was trying to get to. Sitting down he looked back at the letter he sealed and the name written on it 'Vander'.

He'd take care of Zacariah until he was ready after all that's what… thats what….

The old mans Silver eyes closed one last time, and he died.

a/n: hope you all enjoyed it, I'm new to LoL's world so any ideas or suggestions on how to make the story more vibrant are greatly appreciated.

Will Zachariah honor his mentor, will he journey to the City of Progress , mighty Piltover and into the shadows of Zaun to find the mysterious Vander. Or will he stay in Hamlet living a life of peace, or will the villagers even let him leave.