(Aatrox is currently using an illusion spell that makes him look like a human and not exactly the way he is on the splash art.)

Requiem for the lost ones.

Irelia.
Eclipsed by tyrants filled with malice,
Unbroken blades defying hate,
Balance in a dance.

Aatrox.
A killer's epitaph,
The hate of the slaughtered,
It is his to bear.

Ionia.
A region filled with unparalleled beauty and rich nature,
the land of the free.

In a village, far to the south of Ionia.

"When is he going to wake up?" Mumbled the dark-blue haired girl who was currently sitting on a nearby chair, she made sure to be a bit far away from the tent, since being too close, would've been rather awkward.

Irelia found herself interrupted by the thoughts of the man.
Who was he?
How was he so tall? He had the appearance of a man, and yet he seemed so different. If she remembers correctly, he even had wings, but after the fight was over with, the wings were to be seen no more.
He was...
Scarier.
Sadder, than anyone she has known.
And the fact that someone from Shurima would be here at this point in time is unordinary.
Irelia looked at the tent and sipped her tea. The tea was special to her, it was created by a special recipe her grandmother had made, therefore drinking it every morning, had grown to be a tradition.

The lords had asked of her of a favor, to ask Azazel to join the Ionian army. She didn't know what to think of it, sure, a powerful ally would be most welcome, but the issue of the matter was, would he join?
During the time she spent with him on the battlefield and on the way back to the village, he didn't seem someone who would work in a team.
Someone who would do it for the fame,
someone who would do it for money.
No...
He looked lost, and most of all, lonely.
She wanted to get to know him better, to understand him.
He was so... surreal.

She then decided to take a sip of her tea, but noticed, that the cup was empty.
"Ah, time flies when you contemplate various topics."
While sighing, Irelia stood up to make some more, but before she could do so, a certain sleepy head awoke and came out of the tent.

Suddenly seeing the being without a top on, startled Irelia, especially when the one in front of her was as built as he was.
"Y-You're awake." Said Irelia.
Aatrox approached her, "So it would seem, I thank you for the bedding, it was... pleasant."

"No need to thank me, I did what anyone would've in this situation, after all, you're the reason my soldiers and I are still alive, for that, I must properly thank you."

The girl then pointed her hand to a chair, implying that he should sit on it, but while doing so, she realized that the chair was far too small for the large figure Aatrox had, but fortunately, improvising was a skill Irelia was quite good at.

"Uh, do you mind waiting a minute? I'll be right back!" Said Irelia as she quickly turned and ran.
Before Aatrox had the chance to say anything, the girl quickly jogged away.

"Hmh." Came out of Aatrox's mouth as he looked at her disappearing figure.
He then proceeded to lean on a tree and inspected the local villagers.

The people were very wary of him, as to be expected.
None dared to look him into the eyes, those who did quickly turned away.

But to his surprise, he noticed a little girl touching his left leg. How did he not notice her?
"W-What are you doing, little creature."
"Hey, Mr!" Said the little girl still touching his leg. "How are you this tall!"
"I don't know. Go bother someone else," Said Aatrox with a rather cold tone. "Where is your fath-"

Suddenly, blank. Aatrox's mind went into a place far deep in his psyche.

What is this?
What am I doing?
Why am I letting her touch me?
Why is her head not on the ground?
Mercy?
Am I having mercy towards this child?
Why?
Why?

Blank.
Aatrox then found himself in a decrepit environment, the skies were crumbling, bones on the ground, a place filled with melancholy.

"Where am I?" Mumbled Aatrox as he looked around himself.
While inspecting the area Aatrox heard someone speak.
"This is the future, Aatrox. Your future.

Aatrox then quickly turned around and saw something peculiar, his own sword, floating.

"What is this, how are you talking to me?!" Demanded Aatrox.

"Oh dear, always quick to demand, never to listen," said the sword.
Aatrox clenched his fist, nevermind the situation, his sword spoke against him? How ridiculous.
"...Speak."
"Hasty, aren't you..."
"You test my patience."

Before Aatrox could approach the sword, it began to speak.

"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess
We seek it thus and soar to the sky."

Aatrox's eyes then suddenly widened, his movement also coming to a halt.
"It couldn't be..." The Darkin thought.

"Ripples form on the sea's surface," Before the sword could recite the last line, Aatrox intervened and finished it himself.

"The wandering soul knows no rest. Unholy, act 1."
Aatrox gazed upon the sword again, yet this time, with different eyes. The sword spoke again.
"You remembered..."

"How can I not? Especially when you've beaten it into my head, Azazel."
"And you've grown soft." Replied the sword.
"But how?"
"How?" Asked the sword, who was supposedly Azazel.
Aatrox proceeded to roar "You can't be real. I killed you!"
"Yes. Indeed.
"Then how...How are you standing in front of me!?"

the silence of the hereafter was cruel and felt like an eternity.

"Answer!

"A better question, my friend, is whether or not I am here..."

"Azazel!"

Blank.

Struck back to reality, Aatrox finds himself at the exact same place he was when he asked of the girl's mother. Overwhelmed with what just happened, Aatrox decided to lean on the tree yet again.

"The girl's father..." Said Irelia as she came back from her short endeavor, Aatrox looked behind her and saw a large chair.
Irelia looked down at the girl and told her to go and play with the others, and the girl did as instructed.

"What of the father?" Asked Aatrox reluctantly.

"He... He passed away a couple of days ago, a bit further south, in a small village."
Aatrox immediately remembered the boy he had slaughtered a while back.
"He was young, he was a good friend of mine. But unfortunately, as fate would have it, we're in a time of war. The Noxians attacked the village and left none alive, the sight of the village... was terrifying.

Ah, that was my own doing, Irelia.
But how could I tell you that,
I must lie,
for your own benefit,
and my own.

"Well, we will have our revenge, but as for other matters, would you like to have a cup of tea? Asked Irelia as she held the cup.
"Yes, it would be, refreshing.

Irelia then proceeded to pour herself and the large man, some tea.
"If you don't mind, I would like to ask you something. May I?
"You shall."

"W-Would you like to join Ionia's troops?"
"A question most blunt and straight, I like that, but I refu-"

Aatrox suddenly came to a halt and noticed something.

The eyes.
Her eyes.
She had the same defeated eyes the boy had.

How bitter.

"If-If money is the problem then don't worry! I will ask the lords to reward you exceptionally well!"

Ah, indeed.
Money is what drives these mortals.
Hence why she offered me a hefty amount.

She was asking of him to kill mortals and to save other mortals?
"What difference does it make," Thought Aatrox.
He has slain countless mortals for no reason than to satisfy his cruel mind.
But to slay mortals for the benefit of others?
This was a new low for Aatrox.

But he didn't care. Not anymore.
Was she even worthy of his sword? This he had to confirm.

"Under one condition." Said Aatrox.

"Oh!" Irelia shouted in an excited manner, "What condition?"

"I wish to fight you."

"Eh?"

"To see whether or not I fight for a strong fighter, lead me to the fighting grounds." Said Aatrox as he lifted up his sword and looked at the enthusiastic brown eyes of Irelia.

End

Chapter 6 coming soon!