It's been a while, eh? Sorry! School and corona have been keeping me quite busy!
Please look forward to fast updates :3

After the conclusion of their short duel, Aatrox and the Ionian hero, Irelia, were on their way to a highly-rated local pub, since Aatrox, who went by the name Azazel in his human form, had requested it.
As the two were walking towards the pub, Aatrox seemed to discern the worried and yet unnoticed expression on Irelia's face. As unlikely as it seemed, Aatrox was rather great at reading people, and thus, asking the one whom he's helping right now, would be appropriate.
The Darkin then proceeded to put his hand over her shoulder.
"Something worries you," Asked Aatrox.
Irelia quickly stopped in her tracks, her hair being blown by the wind made it appear untidy, awkward, and all over her face. It made her look rather cute. "If there are questions lingering in your mind, ask away."

The girl widened her eyes at the fact that he had noticed her, she was always prideful about the fact that she could keep an emotionless and stoic face during battles and the like, but to be noticed this easily hurt her pride a little. 'Am I that obvious?' thought Irelia but instead of dodging Aatrox's offer, she decided to ask.

"Back atop the hill, why did you save us?"

A blunt, yet thorough question. The question had a clear answer. Aatrox had given himself a single chance of redemption, by saving a life he would prove to himself, that he still had good in him.
The respite and peace in his life were long overdue, and that he knew. But... Forgiving oneself, was enough for him.
"I took a chance." Said the large figure as he slowly increased the pace.
Irelia, not letting herself stay behind for long, wondered. "A chance, a chance at what?"
Aatrox stopped, smiled, and looked at the sundown.
"You may interpret my answer as you desire."

Irelia frowned at the ambiguous reply, but still understandably nodded and continued. "You possess great wisdom, much more than I do, I, therefore, ask of you..." She took a slight pause.
"How can I get the people of Ionia to trust me more? How can I save those who don't even want to be saved in the first place?"
"Have they given up?" Aatrox asked.
"Most of them have. This war is taking a toll on the people of this land, and on their vitality. The people of Ionia are spiritual and peaceful, this... is..." Irelia stopped mid-sentence but Aatrox was able to realize what she meant.
*Cruel...*

It feels as if I am a Shephard guiding sheep to safety, but all they do is turn back and reject my help." The girl then gasped for air and hoped that none of the villagers heard her.
Upon waiting for an answer, Aatrox muttered words that would never leave her resolute mind.

"Seek strength, Irelia. The rest will follow."

And as such, the girl received a completely new objective in her life.

-
The two then continued walking towards their destination.
Upon arriving at the pub, the pair proceeded to have an exceptional meal.
When Aatrox received the menu, he had no idea what to do with it.
*Is this eatable?* Thought the Darkin as he was about to put the menu in his mouth.
"What will you be order-"
The sight of Aatrox almost devouring a menu was certainly pleasant to witness.

-

Even when eating, Irelia was the kind who would ask countless questions, even though Aatrox had grown rather annoyed by the number of queries.

The questions mostly involved, "Where did you train?" or, "Who was your master?" Typical of warriors to ask, but those were questions that couldn't be answered, which left the girl rather disappointed.

While eating this pulled pork dressed with gravy, a meal, which was completely foreign to the darkin, Aatrox noticed the little girl he saw earlier on the same day.
Her curious eyes wandering at his eating habits and his big sword which was covered with a big cloth. He could see in her eyes that she was curious, but even after all that ogling, she never dared to approach him.

When the sun settled and all was said and done, Irelia and Aatrox decided that it was time to bid farewells to one another. Irelia seemed to be quite tired and Aatrox had important matters to attend to, or rather, to meet someone, for he, had sensed that someone was watching him, observing him...

The matter was completely unbeknownst to the girl since she didn't possess the ability to sense aura.

After paying for the meal, Aatrox left the village outskirts and entered the forest, where someone familiar, was waiting for him.

After walking through the wild-life for a while, he could sense himself getting closer and closer to the one awaiting him, he finally pushed the last tree branch which was obscuring his view and saw someone standing in an open field.

Aatrox took a good look at him, the opposing figure donned a silver armor and used a spear and a shield. He was holding his helmet on his left hand and spear on the right.
But even then, he couldn't recognize the warrior.

"So you've come, darkin." "I do not know why you're donning a humans body, but it matters little." The man uttered while putting on his helmet. "To be honest, it's taking me a great effort not to strike you down right this instant." He continued.

*How did he know that I'm a darkin?* Aatrox wondered.
"Is that so?... Was that all?" Aatrox responded, with a neutral expression.

The man gripped on his spear tighter, "All?!" he yelled. "To be this arrogant... I will take your head to the heavens as a souvenir.
Aatrox smirked. "The fact that you consider yourself as an equal to me, is being arrogant in itself."

"You... You are aware of your past endeavors, are you not, darkin?"

"I am aware of my past endeavors." Aatrox then looked at the sky which was filled with countless stars, "I'm trying to atone for my sins."

"How dare y-"

The man stopped, looked at the ground while closing his eyes, and calmed himself, the words that came out of the darkin was an insult to Atreus. "Sin may be forgiven, this murder is the atonement!"

Atreus wasted no time and leaped forward with his sword and shield in hand, ready to pummel his opponent, but instead of being hit back, he hit a nearby tree.

The darkin dodged.
He dodged.

The almighty world ender didn't respond to his challenge.
Was he unworthy?

Faster than the eye could see, he leaped at the darkin once again.

Aatrox dodged yet again.

"Why..."
He mumbled.
"Why won't you..."
Now screaming.
"Fight back?!"

His sword was still behind his back, the fight wasn't even fair, but he, of course, knew that.
After being defeated while the god of the war resided in his body, how was he supposed to have his revenge for the deceased?
To avenge his loved ones?
To be at peace.
But right this instant, Atreus was driven by rage and malice.

For the next attack, Aatrox finally took on a stance, albeit, without his sword.

"The amount of malice you hold towards me," Said Aatrox, gaining the warrior's attention. "I must respond in kind."
Atreus mumbled his prayers to the gods.

The two warriors charged at each other, within a fraction of a second, everything was decided.

When the dust settled, and the weapons fell on the ground, Atreus found himself on the ground, unable to move, while Aatrox, stood tall.

"H-How is t-this possible...?" Atreus grunts while in anger and pain, his whole body was aching, if had he not put forth his shield to absorb the full force of the punch, he would've definitely died.

"Shall I tell you the difference between you and I?" Aatrox spoke while looking at the fallen warrior.

"It's ambition. It's like the story of the monkey trying to capture the moon. No matter how he struggles, it's just the moon's reflection on the water he sees. So he only sinks into the water. Time after time, he sinks."

"H-How dare you m-mock me?!" Atreus screamed in anger while trying to raise his body up. "Do you know how long it took me to find you?!"
Atreus managed to lift his body up.

"You still don't get it, do you, stranger?" Aatrox sighed while speaking.
"You and I, our levels are as distant as the earth from the heavens. Must I spell it out for you? Even if I discard my left arm, discard my left leg, and yet even then I have not nearly lowered myself to your level."

Atreus grunted while grabbing his spear.

"Begone," Aatrox uttered to the mortal. "If you wish to keep your life, that is."

New chapter coming soon!