May you find peace now.
A few words for a soul gone too early. Really, Yi had no idea what else he could do.
Days ago he had found someone he knew, someone from the village. Sadly, this young man was already dead when he came accross his bloody body in the areas of the fights. Yi felt greatly sad since then.
He had literally no idea that any of his peers would follow his path. They had maybe talked and shared how it was difficult to stay at the village when war had long been known. They were about a dozen of kids ready to go outside and fight, trained through Wuju and willing to protect the land. Not exactly kids but they were still young, barely adults and surely the new generation that refused to stay in isolation.
Not once Yi had considered taking any of them with him. This was his own decision and he refused to risk anyone's life besides his own. Surely it wasn't smart to think they would stay back after his departure. Indeed now he had the proof at least one had decided to follow and join the fights. Only to find death.
It hurt a lot, more than the death of any other ionian fellow in this war. He knew him, they all grew up at the village and trained together. His death wasn't directly because of him but Yi felt like his blood stained his hands all the same. Had he chosen to stay back and respect the elders' decision, would they all be alive ?
Were there more of them that had chosen to leave ?
Possibly yes, since they all had this feeling of injustice from watching the smoke coming up down the mountain. They knew how to fight and there were enemies outside. What else to ask ?
Now Yi would wonder how many wandered like him from fight to fight. How many had died already.
Heart heavy with regrets and guilt, he had taken away the body of his friend to pay a last hommage and give funerals. It wasn't perfect, he had so little time and no ways to properly follow their traditions but he still made it. In no way he would have been able to take him back to the village for a decent burrial.
So here, far from their home, he gave a few last words to a man gone too young. It could have been any of them and it broke his heart. Simple grave, marked by a pile of stones and weapon planted right there for the fallen. It would do, even if Yi wished he could have given something better. Hopefully his friend's rest wouldn't be disturbed there, he had made sure of it.
To walk away was so difficult, hit by guilt. None of this should have happened. For all this time he had thought about quitting the fights, now it was too strong. What was the point ? How many of them remained ? In the worst case they had all left and died somewhere in Ionia. Yi didn't want to think about this possibility. The only way to know would be to return to the village and wait.
Maybe I should.
Before he already regretted his decision because of the toll on his parents and the village in general but now he had another reason to feel bad on this. Someone had died following his steps. They may not have all followed his example, after all everyone felt it was unfair to be isolated, but Yi was the first to run to the fights. Surely it convinced the rest to do the same. My fault.
So it was rather normal that he carried this horrible mood for a certain time. It could slowly heal the burn but it took too long to even be felt. At night he thought about it and it even came up in a nightmare, about close friends dying in snow fields, alone. Yi's daily life wasn't exactly good before but that was the last straw. He could bear any of this anymore.
I have to go back.
Leave the war behind, like the elders had said before. Not that it wasn't of his concerns but he had given so much, to continue would kill him slowly. He saw death at every corner, he saw blood tainting these harmonious lands, he saw despair. And he found love.
That was the only positive side, really. Yi had no idea how long he would have last without his soulmate. They would never know. However it was also the reason why he doubted this decision of leaving the fights. He had no idea where Yasuo was and if he was still fighting on his side.
In lack of information, Yi would still return back home. He knew it was going to take a lot of time, since his departure he had crossed so much distance. How long ? No idea. He wasn't counting since he had left the village, he wouldn't count now.
It was harsh but he had to. He was aware that if everyone followed his state of mind then Noxus would win easily but he had given so much already. The village would still need help one day, because Bahrl was already invaded back then and sooner or later they would find it.
Before that Yi would have to endure punishment though and this was probably what made him a bit anxious. This wasn't going to be nice on him, on the opposite. He couldn't remember a time he had done such a bad thing. All this time he had been considered a respectful kid and now no doubt he was doomed. The worst would be if they chose to stop him from seeing Yasuo. Yi knew it, at some point this would clash and he wasn't ready. To return to the village risked to make it difficult for them but his duty still stood, he would go.
There was no perfect solution. In any case he would remain unhappy since in no way he could join his soulmate yet. Life was cruel and it made the war last. Yi had no idea when it actually started because the village was so far but it might be almost three years. One year since he had last seen Yasuo.
Take care, love. His last ray of hope in this hell.