An Angel's Thief
Chapter 5: Judgement
~ Institute of War
''And Oliver… Welcome to the League of Legends.'' Kolminye's words rang through my head, leaving mixed behind as the elevator moved upwards.
''Uhm… M-Mister Oliver, s-sir?'' The Summoner asked, the nervousness never leaving her voice. Her high pitch voice startling me a bit as she hadn't spoken the entire way, up until now. ''Y-y-you're not allowed to lean against the g-g-glass.'' She said pointing at my shoe which was up against the glass of the elevator.
''Oh, my bad. Sorry.'' I said removing my foot from the glass. ''Say Summoner, I didn't quite catch your name last time, what was it again?'' I tried starting a conversation with the small figure dressed in dark green.
''I-it's R-R-Rose.'' She stuttered while adjusting her hood which was hiding her face.
''Rose it might seem rude of me to ask but… Do you always stutter or are you just nervous?'' I asked with a small smile.
''I-I-I…'' Rose began to mentally shut down before she let out a loud squeal. The sound she made was one I had never heard before, it completely caught me off guard as the squeal lasted a couple of seconds.
''Are you…okay?'' I asked a bit uncertain as the Summoner had stopped moving completely. ''S-Summoner?''
''I'm fine. It's just that you're going to be a new Champion and ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh, You're so handsome! Please don't tell my husband I said that! Eh, who am I kidding, you don't know who that is and even if you did, he already knows I'm all over The Shadow Reaper's Darkin form anyway. Hehe. Say do you know Rhaast? Do you, do you, DO YOU?!'' Rose suddenly started to speak very clearly and without stutters, almost as if she was completely cured of her shyness.
''This is what I get for trying to be nice to her…'' I thought to myself as the Summoner just kept on rambling.
''He's so cool and sassy, as Kayn's weapon. And don't get me started on when he takes over! The horns! His face! The red skin! Say we're retrieving The Rose of Corruption, it's said that it speaks to its host as well, maybe it's a Darkin… *GASP* ARE YOU A DARKIN!?-''
''No, to all of your questions about me.'' I said cutting the woman off. ''Could you… Tone it down from a ten to a five, maybe?'' I asked the Summoner who's hooded face was staring at me.
''I… I get that a lot, sorry about that.'' Rose said, the enthusiasm leaving her voice. ''It's also the reason I don't have that many friends besides my husband's friends…'' She admitted sadly.
''I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.'' I said awkwardly.
''I know! I'll just get my job done over here so we can both go back to what we were supposed to be doing!'' The Summoner suddenly said with a happy voice, like what I said never happened.
''Strange people, these Summoners…''
''Okay, follow me!'' Summoner Rose said as the elevator came to a hold on the highest floor of the Institute. ''This is a Summoner only area, it's not available to the public because this is where all the important stuff happens!'' Rose explained as I followed her.
''How did they hide this whole floor from the public? With magic? These people might be a lot more dangerous than I realize…''
The special area was filled with robed figures, apparently, the robes came in a lot of interesting colors, and all were decorated with a special lining. Some were a bit brownish, others silver, gold or greenish and every now and then there were robes decorated with blue or with gems.
Rose stopped to talk to a few hooded figures at a desk, close to a set of metal doors. She pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to one of the figures at the desk, who began reading it.
''I'm surprised Kolminye tasked a klutz like you with such an important task, don't you have like outfits to make?'' The figure said with a chuckle.
''Well the High Counselor must have her reasons now won't she?'' Summoner Rose said, the rude comment leaving her unphased.
''Whatever, just make sure you don't lose sight of that artifact or the thief.'' The figure behind the desk said as it looked pass Rose and glared at me from underneath its hood.
''I won't, now would you be so kind and open the elevator door for me?'' Rose said impatiently. ''Come, Oliver, we're almost at the vault.'' She said motioning me to follow her.
The metal doors close to the desk opened for us as we stepped in. ''Artifacts vault.'' A voice said as the doors began to close and the elevator began moving down.
''Almost there…'' I thought to myself.
''Time for a reunion.'' The cruel voice laughed in my head.
~ Institute of War, Artifacts vault
''Mr. Oliver? Hello? Are you still with me?'' Summoner Rose asked, snapping me out of my starting conversation with the voice. ''We're here.'' She said, standing in between the large metal doors of the elevator, holding them open.
''I'm sorry, Summoner.'' I said walking out of the elevator. ''Just a moment with myself.''
The elevator leading to a short, dimly lit hallway, at the end, was a large, round vault door, decorated with gold and silver. The door was sealed off with three special lock mechanisms, all of them requiring specific things to open each lock.
''Well this is it. The great Institute vault, known for its many deadly artifacts.'' Summoner Rose said as she took off her hood, revealing her face. She ran one of her hands through her wavy auburn hair and fixed her large, round glasses. ''What? W-Why are you staring at me like that?'' She asked her cheeks flaring up.
''Your behavior doesn't fit your look at all, I was expecting a bit more of a stalker look.'' I said with a grin. ''Your husband is a lucky man.'' I complimented.
''W-W-Well he does have to deal with my clumsiness after all, hehehe.'' The summoner laughed nervously before turning to the vault door and typing in a code on a number pad that suddenly appeared.
After she ticked in the code making one of the three locks open as the number pad disappeared just as quick as it had suddenly appeared. Next was a retina scanner. Rose moved up her glasses and put her eyes against the scanner, making the second lock open as the scanner disappeared. Finally a microphone appeared as Rose moved closer to speak into it.
''Summoner 'Emerald' Rose, Gold division, Singed's Scouts. Two hundred twenty-five mastery points.'' She told the microphone.
After moving away from the microphone it also disappeared, just like the security measures before it as the third and final lock opened.
''There, open.'' Rose said with a satisfied smile on her face while pulling at the large vault door.
''Impressive security measures.'' I said as I followed the Summoner into the vault. ''So you have to be a Summoner to be allowed into this large thing?''
''Nope, no one is allowed in here. Well, at least not without the High Counselors permission.'' Summoner Rose explained as she suddenly took a left. ''That's why I had to give the guy at the desk that little piece of paper.''
''Right now we're going left, but what's to the right?'' I asked curiously as we passed glass displays with blades, axes, daggers, guns and a lot of more weapons and deadly trinkets.
''That's for me to know and for you to wonder Mr. Oliver.'' She giggled. ''It's a saying from where I'm from. I'm just teasing you. It's where we keep duplicates of Champion's their weapons.''
''That's strange…'' I said thinking about the dangers of making duplicates.
''Well, the Institute also makes duplicates of a Champion's attire so that if they have nothing to wear, they can take one from their closet in their apartment, provided by the Institute.'' Rose explained as we passed item's labeled with number five thousand. ''We're almost there.''
''Oh crap, my suit!'' I yelled, realizing that all of my thieving gear was either back at my apartment or taken by the police. Both would be a problem.
''Your what?'' The Summoner asked with a confused face as she came to a hold, revealing a glass container with The Rose inside. ''Anyway, I'll open up the container for you. Just give me a moment.'' Summoner Rose said as she fiddled with a cord of keys, searching for the right one to open the glass with.
''Take the artifact first!'' The cruel voice hissed in my head.
''How about I don't do that?'' I argued as I got ready to open a tear to Piltover.
''Summoner, excuse me for a moment.'' I said as I clawed open a portal. ''Oh man I haven't done this in a while…'' I muttered as I made the tear a bit bigger.
''WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?'' Summoner Rose asked amazed as I stepped through the tear. ''Where are you going!?''
''I'll be right back!'' I said, poking my head through the tear back inside the vault before taking a look around the place I had gone. ''Not the smartest idea to put my stuff out in the open…'' I said as I looked at a mannequin with my 'Master Thief' gear on it.
Everything was put neatly on the mannequin. My cloak had been taken care of nicely, the feathers on the tips of the cloak were still as nice as when I left them. The pants looked like they were ironed and the boots looked polished as well, bringing a smile to my face. I took a closer look at the simple light body armor, inspecting it for damage, to my surprise, not a scratch to be found.
''Nice.'' I said as I took my gear and put it on, leaving my casual clothes on the mannequin. I pulled the tag out of my cloak and read the numbers on it. ''Case 21921196… Better look for the rest of my stuff…'' I muttered to myself as I searched through a few boxes before finding the matching number.
I took out the box and opened it, revealing my silver claw, leather glove, white mask and special belt inside. ''Oh I missed you guys so much!'' I whispered as I hugged my stuff before putting it on. ''There, that's much better.'' I said fixing mask as I walked back to the tear.
''Oh wait, before I forget.'' I said to myself as I took out a pen and scribbled something onto the little tag that was originally in my cloak and hung it into my black overcoat, smiling at the message it read. ''Can't leave without a proper thank you.'' I said as I stepped into the vault again, Summoner Rose waiting on me on the other side.
''Took you long enough.'' She said tapping her feet impatiently. ''Look I got the glass display open! It's all yours again!'' She said motioning towards the thorny artifact laying inside the display on a little green cushion.
''Something's not right…'' I thought to myself as I felt the artifact's rough design between my fingers.
''Oh, sweet release!'' The cruel voice said as I inspected the artifact, the ghostly and eerie green glow returning to The Rose as the voice seemed to leave my head.
''And stay the hell out of my head from now on.'' I told the weapon as it let out a large puff of green smoke and a loud screech which echoed through the vault.
''What. Was. THAT!?'' Summoner Rose asked wide-eyed while I fixed The Rose to my belt, realizing I didn't see the antique box anywhere.
''Apparently, being bound to an artifact like this results in attempts made by the artifact to drive me insane by taking residence inside my head when the bond is broken for too long.'' I explained to the Summoner who gave me a confused look. ''The thing speaks to me, trying to make me go crazy? Is that simple enough for you to understand?''
''Yeah, that, I can understand.'' The Summoner giggled as she began to walk towards the exit of the vault. ''Come, Oliver, I'll take you to The Hall of Judgement. High Counsilor Kolminye is probably waiting for us.''
~ Piltover, police department, Sheriff's office
Caitlyn was sitting at her desk, slowly making her way through a large stack of paperwork, letting out a long sigh before stretching her arms.
''Oh, what's this?'' The sheriff asked herself as she took out a report of some sorts. ''This looks promising.'' She said to herself as she began reading.
''It has been a week since Oliver was brought to the prison. The guy is a lot of trouble I'll give you that much. As of today, he has sent three people into the infirmary (not including the minor injury he has sustained himself during a shanking accident.). What did stand out to me as a psychiatrist is that he seems to struggle with an increasing form of schizophrenia, making him seem depressed at times. I have yet to have a session with him, but I am already prescribing him antidepressants.''
*KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!*
''CUPCAKE! CUPCAKE! CUPCAKE! CAIT! CAITLYN! LET ME IN! IT'S URGENT!''
The sheriff's reading session was rudely interrupted by the knocking on the door and the yelling that followed. The sheriff let her head hang and let out another long sigh as her unwanted nickname was being shared with the whole police department (Not that the nickname wasn't already known by everyone at the department.).
''Come in, Vi'' Caitlyn groaned. ''As much as I love her, the nickname yelling at work really has to stop…'' She thought to herself as she glared at the opening door, revealing her pink haired partner, not wearing her giant gauntlets for a change.
''Cait you have to see this! It's urgent!'' The pinkette yelled as she ran into the office and began tugging at her partner's hand. ''Come ooooooon, hurry!''
''Vi, what is so important that you have to storm my office and nearly pull me over my desk?!'' The sheriff asked confused as she got up from her chair.
''It's the evidence room.'' Vi said as she pulled the sheriff along by her hand. ''It got raided.''
''WHAT!?'' Caitlyn yelled as she was pulled into the evidence room, multiple officers standing around the scene. ''Vi if this is another practical joke, I'll fire you for real this time.'' The sheriff said annoyed as she looked around the evidence room.
''You're the master detective here, you tell me what is missing.'' The deputy snapped at her partner, who was scanning around the room for anything out of the ordinary.
''Wait what happened to the thief's gear? This is civilian clothing…'' Caitlyn said after a moment of looking around the room. ''Did he?''
''I can't get in contact with the Institute prison, something about maintenance…'' Vi said with a scowl. ''Maybe someone just broke in here? Who knows maybe it was the mysterious 'C'.''
''Vi don't joke about that, he is still out there.'' Caitlyn said annoyed as she noticed a piece of paper hanging from the coat. ''What do we have here?'' She muttered to herself as she read the little piece of paper.
''Thank you for keeping it nice and tidy for me Pinky! ;p''
''Whoever wrote this knows us, and maybe even knows you were the one that kept the suit clean… I never thought I'd say this but I think it really is someone here at the police station.'' Caitlyn said, trying to connect all the strange puzzle pieces.
''Well then it's time for an internal investigation.'' Vi said as she followed her beloved 'Cupcake' through the police station.
~ Institute of War, Hall of Judgement
''Ah, there you two are.'' High Councilor Kolminye said as she stood next to the giant double doors of the Hall of Judgement. ''Oliver you look nice.''
''We took a bit of a detour to get here.'' Summoner Rose explained as she bowed her head towards the High Councilor. ''Well… Oliver did.''
''I just had to pick up some stuff. That way I actually look like a champion, and not like a civilian.'' I said smiling underneath my hood. ''So High Councilor… How does this work exactly?''
''Right I didn't get to explain it earlier to you.'' Kolminye said, shooting Summoner Rose a glance. ''Like I said before, a Judgement is the first link to a Summoner, that Summoner being me. It might seem a bit extreme but it is all an illusion. This is necessary in order for us to see your true potential and intentions.''
''Okay… Got it.'' I said hesitantly as I looked at the giant double doors, the words 'The Truest Opponent Lies Within'. ''An odd choice of words…''
''Good luck Oliver.'' Summoner Rose said tapping me on the shoulder before taking her leave.
''Thank you Summoner, may our paths cross again.'' I said with a small bow of my head, making the young woman giggle as she did the same.
''Oliver are you ready for your Judgement?'' Kolminye asked, summoning a large blue orb in her hands.
''Ready as I'll ever be, I suppose.'' I said, walking up to the large double doors. ''So do I like… Just push them open or?'' I joked, earning a serious nod from Kolminye. ''Got it. I'll be right back.'' I said as I pushed open the doors.
Once opened, the doors revealed nothing but darkness inside, the light of the Hall of Judgement not daring to go inside the room, creating an odd border of shadows inside the room. Slowly I made my way into the room, the only light coming from The Rose. Without me noticing the large double doors closed behind me with a loud,
*SLAM*
I jumped slightly as the whole room was now enveloped in darkness, not even the green eerie glow from The Rose could light the dark room at this point, it was almost like the darkness consumed every source of light it came in contact with. Suddenly a small light appeared in the distance, drawing me towards it.
''And what do we have here?'' I said to myself as I made my way towards the light, passing through some strange barrier, sending me back in time.
I felt young again, well… younger I suppose. I walked around my old room, with my old bed, my old books, my old everything. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was back home! Happiness hit me as I remembered Kolminye's words. ''It might seem a bit extreme, but it is all an illusion.''
'''Right, it's not real.'' I told myself as I couldn't resist taking a look through some of my old books. ''Ah, the good old times.'' I said as I put my books away.
''Oliver! Who are you talking to?'' A familiar voice asked from the other side of the door. ''You aren't playing around with your powers again are you?''
''It can't be…'' I thought dumbstruck.
''Oliver? Are you okay in there?'' The voice called out again, this time knocking on the door of my room.
''It's fine ma! I'll be out in just a minute!'' I assured my mother. ''Wait, I remember this day…'' I thought to myself as I gulped loudly.
''That's fine sweetie but supper's ready so hurry up! You know how much Hank hates waiting!'' She knocked once more on the door before taking her leave.
''Wait, it's all fine. I just have to not go into his room and everything will be fine.'' I thought, calming myself down as my body began to move on its own, walking into the hallway. ''NO, NO, NO! Oliver stop! You don't want to go near that room!'' I mentally protested but my younger self didn't seem to listen.
It was just all one big memory, playing out in front of me, the only thing that I was allowed to do was give the right answer to questions, any wrong answer wouldn't come out of my mouth. It was like I was forced to watch my past mistake all over again.
My younger self felt something, drawing itself towards Hanks workshop, instead of the dinner table, where I was supposed to go. I was yelling, no. Screaming and begging for my body to not go in there. Not wanting to relive that painful memory.
As my younger self made its way into the workshop, I noticed something shiny, hanging next to a nice, white box. I opened the box, revealing The Rose. It's enchanting green glow, making my younger self's eyes go wide in amazement. But still, that shiny pendant looked so familiar. I took it and opened it.
Inside the pendant was a picture of my mother, holding a teeny-tiny little baby while she was getting a kiss on her cheek from my father.
''No! No… Not again…'' I began to cry, the younger version of me didn't mimic my sorrow, although, in just a second, he too would be in tears. ''I don't want to hear it again! Not after all this time.''
''What the hell are you doing in my workshop!?'' I heard Hank say as I felt his hand grab a hold of me. ''Give me that!'' He said as he snatched the pendant from my hands.
''Hey! That's my dad's! Give it back!'' My younger self yelled as he struggled to get loose and tried to grab the pendant. The actions earning him a slap to the face, sending him to the ground. ''Where did you get that? You fat bastard?'' My younger self asked. ''I thought dad's body was never found after that hunting accident?''
''I'm going to tell you a little secret Oli. You and your father were supposed to die that day, if it wasn't for you being sick that day, you both would have been out of my way. But alas you stayed behind, making it easier for me to dispose of your damn rat of a father.'' Hank told his story, enjoying every minute of it.
My younger self was sitting on the ground, holding his reddening cheek as a handprint formed on it. Tears in his eyes as Hank continued.
''And do you want to know the best part? It send your mother straight into my arms.'' He laughed.
''I'm going to tell her everything.'' I said through gritted teeth, the pain of the memory no longer eating away at me.
''Go ahead, she'll never believe you! Ha, what a joke!'' Hank laughed as I noticed I was in full control of the memory again.
I spun around grabbing The Rose from the box.
During my spin I noticed myself changing into the man I have become over the passing years, my regular clothes from all those years ago, changing into the black coat and armor as I pointed The Rose at the spot Hank had been standing.
''WHERE ARE YOU, YOU SON OF BITCH!?'' I yelled, the dried tears staining my face. ''SHOW YOURSELF! I'LL KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID!''
''Oliver. I had no idea.'' Kayle appeared in front of me, clothed in thin white dress making her look like an actual angel from heaven. ''Becoming a champion means harming me… Could you bring yourself to do that?'' She asked with a hint of sadness in her voice.
''Dammit, I got carried away in an illusion… Dammit, Oliver! Focus! It's all just a test!''
''I know that, and yes, I could,'' I said staring at her.
''Prove it.'' She said taking a step closer, grabbing The Rose by the barrel and pulling it closer to her chest. ''Do it.'' She said, closing her eyes with a smile, her hands already bleeding due to grabbing a hold of The Rose's thorns growing out of its barrel.
I stared at her, I knew I had to do it. I hoped she was bluffing but an illusion doesn't bluff I suppose… ''Let's just get this over with.'' I said with a sigh as I pulled the trigger, firing a bolt into her body.
As the bold entered her midriff, her eyes shot open in surprise. She slowly raised a hand to my cheek, carefully cherishing it with tears in her eyes. ''Thank you.'' She said.
The ground underneath us gave out and I started to fall into darkness, the same darkness that covered the room before, but this time there was no floor, I kept falling as I saw Kayle's lifeless body also fell down. Her beautiful golden locks waving in the air.
Tears mixed with blood flying through the air as we fell.
I wanted to scream her name, but no sound escaped my throat. I could only raise my hand to try and catch her as we both fell. I realized my efforts were in vain as I hit the floor with a loud thud, the black smoke from the ground swallowing me whole until there was nothing more than darkness.
~ Outskirts of Piltover, forest, 300 years ago
''KAYLE!'' I yelled as I shot up from my fever dream. ''What the!? Whoa!'' I yelled out of surprise as I lost my balance and fell out of the tree I was laying in.
''Hahaha, oh man. You, humans, are the worst when it comes to sleeping in trees, you know that right? Oliver? You okay, buddy?'' A voice laughed before asking me if I was okay.
''Yeah, I'm fine… Wait a minute… Yoesef!? IS THAT REALLY YOU!?'' I yelled as my head shot up, searching in the trees for my friend.
''Of course it's me! Who else hangs around your weird ass?'' The young, raven feathered Lhotlan Vestaya said as he jumped out of the tree, landing safely on his talons. ''What were you dreaming about? I heard you mutter all kinds of weird things.''
''I'm… not sure.'' I said massaging the spot on my head that I hit when I fell down. ''Was it all just a dream? Was none of it real? Or is this the illusion? I don't even know anymore…''
''Oliver? Hellooo? You ok? Hey! Mu'Takl!'' Yoesef said nudging me. ''Are you ok?''
''Don't go around calling me a blood traitor, just because I hang around you! Be happy that I am friends with you at all!'' I said pushing my oldest friend.
''Yeah, yeah, whatever Oliver, you know you love me.'' He said. ''AS A BROTHER OFCOURSE!'' He yelled awkwardly.
''Ah, awkward teen talk, how I not miss you.''
''Hahahaha, I know you don't mean it that way. I got my eyes set on someone else anyway.'' I said winking at the Vestaya as I took a seat against the base of the tree I just fell out of.
''This Kayle girl you keep mentioning in your sleep?'' Yoesef said with a smirk as he sat beside me.
''Perhaps.'' I said smiling as I thought about the blonde angel.
''Well? Tell me about her! Is she your age?'' Yoesef asked interested while brushing some of his feathers.
''At the moment I question her existence…'' I said thinking about the last two months that I had lived in Piltover. ''Was it really all a dream?''
''You're daydreaming again! Mu'Takl, snap out of it!'' Yousef said laughing. ''If she really is that pretty and you're afraid I'm going to steal her away from you then fine, don't tell me!''
''I told you not to call me that!'' I yelled giving him another playful shove. ''And Kayle would never love a raven like you!''
''Wait is she another person you came up with in your mind? C'mon Oliver, you have to start meeting girls your age! It's not like the perfect girl will just fly into you on the streets!'' Yoesef laughed.
''You'd be surprised.'' I said getting up from the base of the tree. ''Are we going to waste away our day here? Or are we going to do something?'' I asked offering my friend a hand.
''What did you have in mind, brother?'' He asked taking my hand as I pulled him up. ''You know I'll always follow you!'' He said with a large smile.''
''We could go swimming.'' I suggested as a joke, knowing that Yoesef doesn't swim.
''Mu'Takl! You know I don't swim!'' He yelled annoyed, giving me a slap on the back of my head. ''Not to mention that I'm shedding my feathers again!'' He said brushing his feathers again, making black feathers fall to the ground.
''Yes!'' I said happily as I started to pick up the feathers. ''Your feathers are the prettiest Yoesef! One day, I'll use them to write down our story! Showing the world that Vestaya and Humans can live next to one another!''
''As brothers from different parents!'' Yoesef said as he put his hand on my shoulder as I did the same, we laughed together as he began to walk towards the Great Piltover Lake. ''Come, let's get you that swim you crave! I'll just sit and watch your clothes while grooming my feathers.'' He laughed.
''Sounds good to me!'' I laughed with him as we made our way towards the water.
~ Outskirts of Piltover, Great Piltover Lake, 300 years ago
We walked together for a few minutes, talking some more about what I dreamed about. Yoesef always was interested in my stories, whether I came up with them myself or if I dreamed it, he loved it all.
''Yoesef?'' I asked the young Vestaya as I took off some of my clothes, throwing them his way.
''Yes, brother?'' He said as he neatly folded the clothes.
''Do you think beautiful days like this are fake?'' I asked, earning a confused look from him.
''What are you talking about? Is this about your dream again? This Kayle girl and the League of Legends don't exist, Oliver, it's all in your head!'' He said with a large smile.
''I suppose you're right…''
''Like always!'' We said in unison, pointing a finger at one another before bursting out in laughter.
''Are you sure you don't want to join me in the water? It's hot outside today.'' I asked him as I walked towards the water.
''Sure as I'll ever be, Mu'Takl! We Lhotlan aren't made for swimming, but if you see a pretty Marai, tell me, okay?'' Yoesef laughed at his joke, watching me walk into the water.
The cold water felt amazing on my younger body, especially during the warm drought that had been going on for the past few days now. I lay on my back, floating in the water, enjoying the cold feeling on my back and the warm sun on my stomach.
After a while, I looked up to see how Yoesef was doing. He was still sitting in the same spot where I handed him my clothes, taking care of his brilliantly kept black feathers. ''Go look for that Marai, Mu'Takl!'' He laughed and waved a couple of times.
''Will do!'' I yelled back as I dove deeper into the water.
The depths of the Great Lake were filled with seaweed and for a second, I thought I saw a green scaled Marai waving at me. My eyes went wide as I watched her wave at me, her beautiful green scales reflecting the sunlight, hitting the water.
She winked at me and swam away, leaving me behind at the bottom of the lake as I noticed I was running out of breath. I swam up as fast as I could, hoping to catch my breath in time.
I shot up from underwater, gasping for air as I caught my breath. ''Yoesef! You won't believe it!'' I yelled as I saw him lying on his back next to my clothes. ''Yoesef! Brother? YOESEF?!'' I asked, panicking as I swam towards the shore.
''Yoesef! What happened!?'' I yelled as I ran up to his motionless body. My face went pale as I noticed a black bolt sticking out of his chest, piercing his heart. I recognized the black bolt sticking out of his chest as I cried over his dead body.
During my sorrow I didn't notice the lake and the forest behind us, turn back into the black room, my body changing back to its original form, back to what it looked like when I entered days ago. At least it felt that way, it felt like days since I stepped into this awfully painful illusion.
''Yoesef! Get up! You can't leave me! I promise I didn't mean to leave!'' I cried, holding the dead body of the young, black feathered Lhotlan before it also faded, just like the forest and the lake.
A figure walked up behind me. I heard the heavy footsteps come to a hold before the figure spoke up. ''Why do you want to join the League of Legends, Oliver?'' It asked. My eyes went wide as I recognized Hank's voice, knowing he was the one that killed Yoesef I turned around and screamed at him.
''YOU MURDERER! I'LL KILL YOU!'' I yelled as I pulled The Rose and fired it into his figure, the black bolts embedding itself inside his body, not affecting him.
''Why do you want to join the League of Legends?'' He asked again.
''YOU WANT TO KNOW!? YOU? OF ALL PEOPLE?!'' I screamed as I grabbed him by the throat, attempting to choke the life out of him. ''I'll tell you! I will never let anyone be like you! NO! I will never let anyone become like you! I will make sure to punish, EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. Of you disgusting pigs.'' I said panting heavily as tears stained my cheeks.
After a moment, the figure turned to black ashes, fading in the dark, revealing two large double doors. I walked over and pushed open the doors, revealing High Councilor Kolminye standing in the doorway.
''Amazing.'' She said with a sad expression on her face. ''I'm so sorry Oliver, but I had to dig deep to get the right answer out of you.'' Kolminye apologized.
''Is that what happened to Yoesef? Is that how he died!?'' I asked blinded by sorrow. ''TELL ME VESSARIA!'' I yelled as I grabbed her arms, shaking her wildly.
''Oliver… Oliver! Get a hold of yourself!'' She yelled as she was unmoved by my freak-out. ''You know how Yoesef came to his end, he lived a happy life! You saw it when you traveled here!'' She said telling me about the things that she had seen through the metal link as Summoner and Champion.
I stood in the middle of the Hall of Judgement, trembling due to the emotions that were coming over me, staring at the ground, cleansing my cheeks from the dried tears that had left lines on my face.
''R-Right…'' I said slowly. ''I-I think I need a moment to think about all of this.''
''Summoner Rose, would you be a dear and take Oliver to the hotel room that I had readied for him?'' Kolminye asked as Summoner Rose came from across the corner.
''W-When did you notice I was there?'' She asked walking up to me, putting her hands on my shoulders as she motioned me to follow her. ''You know what, we'll talk about that later, come, Oliver, this way.''
~ Institute of War, Summoners hotel
''Here we go.'' Summoner Rose said as she opened the door to the hotel room. ''Nice and cozy.'' She said motioning me to go inside.
''Thank you, Summoner.'' I said, sounding depressed. ''I'm just going to sit here for a while and eh… rest up.'' I said taking a seat on the king-sized bed.
''Oliver… What Kolminye showed you… I'm sorry.'' Rose said, guilt marking her words.
''Summoner, you have nothing to feel guilty for. I was warned by a lot of people… 'Becoming a Champion is no easy feat.', 'It's going to be intense.', 'I had to dig deep.'.'' I quoted, taking off my coat, belt and silver gauntlet.
''Oliver, what I witnessed today was… Not something to take lightly, you're carrying a lot of emotional baggage.'' She said, taking a seat next to me, carefully rubbing my back. ''But you're a strong man.'' She said with a weak smile.
''You know, I always expected Summoners to be these, horrible people that don't care about any of the Champions but you little lady, you are something special.'' I said, mimicking her smile.
''Oh, a lot of us don't give a rat's ass about the champions. But there's even more of us, that love every single one and celebrate every new addition to the League.'' Rose said taking off her hood and fixing her glasses.
''I'm just going to have a drink and go to bed I suppose…'' I said searching the mini-bar and taking out a large bottle of whiskey. ''You drink?''
''N-N-Not really…'' The summoner said, getting up from the bed, ready to leave. ''I'll leave you to your business.'' She said standing in the doorway. ''And Oliver.''
''Hm?''
''Please take good care of yourself. We might just have met, but you're already in my top three.'' She said, sticking out her tongue playfully.
''Your… Top three?'' I asked confused as I poured myself a glass of whiskey.
''Favorite Champions, silly.'' She said. ''Have a good night.'' She closed the door.
''You too.'' I said sitting down on the bed, the glass of whiskey in my hand, the other massaging my eyes. ''Gods, Yoesef… I'm so sorry...''
~ Institute of War, Institute gardens, midnight
A man clothed in black walked through the Institute gardens, carrying a small collection of items and trinkets. He looked around a couple of times, making sure no one was watching as he made his way to one of the older trees.
What he didn't notice were two pairs of eyes following him from above, watching his every move inside the gardens. The pair whispering to each other as the man found a suitable spot to sit down.
He sat down in front of an old willow, crossing his legs, putting the collection of trinkets in order.
First, a small, Ionian incense burner. Second, he pulled off a hand full of feathers from his black cloak, putting them inside the incense burner. And last he lit the feathers inside, burning them.
''Darling, are you seeing what I'm seeing?''
''Yes baby, this guy is interesting.''
''Let's keep watching and see how much he knows.''
The man sat motionlessly watching the feathers burning inside the burner. His breathing slow and his eyes focused on the burning feathers.
''This guy knows the ritual…''
''It's not over yet sweetie.''
''I know that I'm just saying he's not like the others.''
''It's an ancient ritual, surely he doesn't know what he's doing.''
''You know, watching those Lhotlan feathers burn is kinda sexy.''
''Shut up, we'll miss the finale if you keep talking so loudly!''
''Sorry…''
''Shhh!''
As the last of the feathers burned up and the ashes flew away into the sky, the man remained seated for a moment before speaking up.
''Heh… Brother from different parents…'' He muttered.
''I told you that he couldn't have known the whole ritual.''
''Taitah be tervaash, Yoesef.''(*) The man said as he picked up the incense burner before getting up and leaving. The action leaving one of the pairs of eyes wide out of surprise and the other pair filled with excitement.
''He… knows the whole ritual!? Who is this guy?''
''He seems like an interesting fellow.''
''Shut up Rakan.''
(*) 'Taitah be tervaash.' comes from the Vestaya/Ionian dialect for 'Rest in peace or 'Rest well'
AYYYYYY It's meeeee! Emerald… You know? The guy who writes the story? Yeah me neither. WAIT A MNUTE! What am I doing uploading this early after posting a chapter? All in good time. I'm comin at ya with that sweet, sweet fanfic. Last time it had been a while, now it hasn't even been a week? Yeah, I'm weird like that. Don't remind me.
Anyway, I can hear you ask, Em why the early chapter? Well, let's just say that I was feeling inspired to write this chapter, plus the fact that if I don't do it now, I might just have to let you wait for atleast two weeks before uploading anything. Some things came up and I might just not have a charger for the upcoming days of my vacation, resulting in a salty me and a phone that is going to suffer from all the notes I'm going to be making. So yeah, that's why I wanted to get this chapter done asap. Plus if I upload this now then I should be back on schedule with my weekly uploads, hell I'll even be two whole days early.
Just like every time, I'll say that I'll go look for typos that slipped my eye after the chapter goes live! And like any other time, I might add some stuff aswell , who knows? ;)
So… A bit more on Oliver's past and his feathery friend that I'm sure I've mentioned before as a 'special' friend, did that fool you? Did you think there was going to be some weird time love triangle? No that ain't happening, atleast I don't have it planned. As for having things planned, Oliver is still missing some stuff, someone owes him an apology and I AM DISSAPOINTED AT THE LACK OF KAYLE IN THIS CHAPTER, Dammit me. Shut up me, you know nothing. Right now Oliver has a few more stops to make and people to meet before he'll have his very first moment on the rift, which I may split in two parts, who knows? ME! Ha! Sorry… I'm just like this. -.-
As for Xayah and Rakan… They'll have a bone to pick with Oliver sooner or later. Wait! Was the other pair of eyes Xayah tho? :Thonking: Rakan are you cheating on your girlfriend? You know what? Don't answer that… Let them find out on their own! Tune in next time to find out! (Or not. It's a free country .)
Also if you want to stay tuned on the latest updates (Jeez, even for me that one was bad.) on all of my fics or on some other fics that float around , and I mean some really nice fics you should consider joining the Discord channel!
You know what? Join us! At The Big Club! Enter the Discord channel by typing in: Discord dot gg /BWpaKr9
Just remember to be respectful towards others and don't be racist so we can all have a good time, k? It's seriously a blast in the server right now with all the peeps that just keep coming and coming! So what are you waiting for? Come join us! Tell your fanfic loving friends and let's have some fun together! No need for hesitation!
So let's go over the last thing that I do every other upload nowadays, the thanking of you guys! To all of you who take their time to read my stories, review them (either on discord or just on ), follow, favorite, YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST! I love you all so much for reading! You guys are the main reason that I haven't given up on writing the stories! So thank you so much for reading any of my stuff and sticking with me on this journey!
As always I hope you guys enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it for you guys!
I hope to see you all in the next authors note of any of my stories!
Until next time,
Emerald out!