Blood to dust.
Dust to blood.
Was this the only meaning in this world? Or were the ashes but a sign of what was to come?
A familiar face faded along the canvas of black, soft whispers and bated breath holding their tongues, awaiting his name. An orange flower rots, and crumbles away with the wind.
Riven shook away her thoughts, exhaling softly as she awaited her fate. The column rose, her back chained to the stone pillar, hair blowing with the breeze and sweat clinging to her body. Clouds of dust billowed and whistled between her chains, constantly interrupted by the chaos of clashing blades and shields above. Her feet stung against the sand, but she paid it no mind, readying herself for what was to come. The column on which she stood stuttered, and the sounds of screaming and crashing shook the very ground. Her eyes narrowed on the sight above.
"Draven…"
She muttered his name, uncaring of the rather bloodletting sight before her. The gates seemed to be open, but not a soul seemed to be alive, and the audience to witness her death were scattering like flies. The man she'd been aiming to kill for so long seemed to be in a hurry, trying to make sense of what was going on as he tossed orders. Her eyes caught onto his. They narrowed.
She would talk, if her throat would allow it. Days without food or water have robbed her of what little dignity she had left behind the torn clothing strapped to her body.
"This is not the end of me, traitor." He ducked as quick as the flash of light had come, and a beast unlike anything else seemed to crawl about the stadium. She dimly noted her broken blade stuck in the ground behind her, yet its ethereal presence seemed to steel her resolve. Riven peered back up again, sighing as the 'Glorious Executioner' was nowhere to be found.
"It's been too long, my friend…" She gently grasped the handle, hoisting the weapon from its place in the ground and resting it upon her shoulders. She turned, runes glowing brightly as she fell into her stance.
Pulsing, vibrating appendages slammed to the ground, hissing as acid met the metal cage beneath the sand. She let our a cry as she thrust her trusty weapon forth, eyes locking with the behemoth's lone iris that seemed to gaze past the barriers of her soul.
Ichigo rushed through the streets of the Noxus capital, eyes swapping between the many small and large beasts that were seemingly destroying the very footholds of the town. Buildings were crushed, and explosions rocketed many of the soldiers there from their posts. He looked up as one seemed to fly over his head, crashing into the columned walls of what he could describe as a colosseum.
"Ichigo, help clear these creatures from the capital!" He turned, noticing Garen clad in his combat gear as he hacked away at the smaller beasts roaming the streets. Ichigo turned back to the biggest threat. Whatever passed overhead needed to be taken care of first… that much was obvious.
"Yeah." He leaped from the ground, catching his balance on the roof tiles of a nearby building. He noted glimpses of red hair ducking in and out of his vision, but he paid it no mind as he calmed his mind, drawing on his spirit energy.
"Zangetsu." His improved senses allowed him to dodge jaws snapping shut, cutting the beast in half as he cleaved his blade through the offender. Blood splattered on his clothes, sticky and almost a lime green. It was nauseating, like the sickly-sweet smell of burning flesh. He took off, feet catching the air as he leaped high above the walls of the great, stone battle arena.
Lightning twitched along the several behemoth sized appendages that effortlessly crushed the looming walls of stone. Ichigo used flashstep, intending on ending the creature's life quickly- only to find that one of those said tentacles slammed against his body, sending him into the ground below. Dust kicked up, making it almost impossible for him to see.
"Damn it… it hits a little harder than I'd thought." A figure, short hair, definitely a woman. Someone stood in front of him, a hand stretched out as if beckoning him to take it.
"Who are you?" She didn't respond, only coughing to let him know that she was real despite the warmth of her hand. Ichigo found himself trapped in the orange eyes that gazed back at him. Whoever she was, it didn't matter. She pointed to her feet, and he quickly took note that a heavy chain was tied about her feet.
"Don't worry. I don't plan on letting you die… not before I learn your name." Her eyes went wide as his spirit energy, whatever she might have called it, coated his blade. The tentacle that had sent him into the dirt loomed overhead, threatening to crush him under heel. But the beast had no intelligence, and it would be its undoing. Ichigo was strong.
Ichigo swung his blade, and not a second later the creature reeled for a moment, before exploding as its body severed in two, crashing to the ground in the same time it had taken for his attack to reach. The woman standing behind him could only stare, blade clutched in hand as he turned back to her, a small smile being the only thing letting her know that he was still there. Her eyes followed his blade as it slashed her chains, destroying the last remaining binding that kept her from her freedom.
"Why?" Her question was simple. He found himself again lost beneath the curious gaze of his newly found compatriot. He sighed, clicking his blades back into place back at his belt.
"Do I really need a reason to help?" She smiled a bit at the thought. The silver-haired warrior grasped his hand, leading him out of the gates in a near dead sprint. The blade in her hand glowed madly, almost hypnotically as he followed at her back. They killed many monsters as they trekked through the streets. Ichigo found himself surprisingly humbled by her strength, no matter the difference between their power. She really knows how to use that sword… even though it's broken to pieces.
Their feet pounded furiously against the brick roads, brushing past the scurrying civilians and guards fighting against the remaining horde of monsters attacking the city. They stopped at a well filled with water, where she tugged at the rope, a bucket filled with water as clear as crystal rising from beneath. She greedily drank its contents, eyes closed as she washed the dirt and soot from her face. He blushed as it spilled over her top- if he looked close he could see a lot more than he'd wanted to, despite his instinct's protests of his resistance to the thoughts. He quickly rid himself of his overshirt, handing it to her despite the cautious eyes watching each and every one of his moves. She put on the garment and sat down at the edge, sighing in content.
"I never got your name, you know." Ichigo sat down beside her, peering back at her as she placed her blade in her lap, lost in thought.
"Riven." Ichigo looked at her for a short moment.
"Riven…"
"I have no surname." Ichigo instantly regretted asking her. Clearly, he might have brought something up he shouldn't have. That was… quick.
"I see. What were you doing, fighting that thing alone?" She cringed a bit, avoiding his gaze to look back down to her blade, which had calmed and faded back to its normal black sheen from before.
"I was a prisoner. You could say that… well… the exiled are never meant to return to the place they were banished." Ichigo found himself lost in thought once again. So she was a prisoner? That stadium… was she fighting as a gladiator for her freedom? No... that much is obvious from what she's wearing.
"Anyways… I've got to get going. I've kind of got a meeting to get to." He stood, brushing himself off as he walked away from her place at the well. She grasped his hand, to which he looked at her questioningly.
"Take me with you." He sucked in his lip as she bowed, hands clenched tight. Her hair fell over her face, hiding her away from his eyes.
"Please…" His mind told him no, but, his heart seemed to be telling another story. Something about her screamed important, but for what reason only one came to mind. Ichigo shook away his doubt and steeled himself for what was to come. He brought her close to him, not letting go of her hand for a second.
"Alright. Stick close to me and you can come along, Riven." She nodded as he took off, and she resisted the urge to gasp as they seemingly floated, his grip tight about her waist as he scanned the streets below. He moved along the tile rooftops, feet gracefully sliding along the surface. Ichigo's arm was tightly wrapped around Riven's waist. His touch is… comforting.
She relaxed, as he stepped off the edge of yet another building, falling slowly to the ground before a man dressed in rather decorated armor, a magic sword gleaming beside him as he heaved in exhaustion.
"The invasion of the void seems to have been quelled… good work." Ichigo let Riven regain her balance, legs shaking a bit from the sudden stop. He peered around the streets, noting a heavy mixture of bodies, some human and others not. He wasn't kidding when he said these things were brutal. That last beast… it actually gave me a pretty good spin. If my power has remained the same... then I can't see a great deal of those traveling with us even scratching that thing.
"Listen… there was a huge one that I fought back over there. I killed it, but…"
"But what?" Garen replied. Ichigo's eyes narrowed at the harshness in his tone.
"It was strong. A lot stronger than the smaller beasts you were killing here. If those creatures from the void attacked with only one… more than likely they've got a lot more of those waiting around." Garen's eyes locked with his shortly, peeling away to take note of the woman he'd brought along with him.
"I'll let their king know at a later time. But first, you can start by telling me who she is. Is she an ally? Or…" He brandished his blade, ready to attack at a moment's notice. Riven responded in her own stance, gazing back with an equally intense glare.
"Hold on a minute! She's friendly… I think. She wants to come with us to meet that guy you brought us here to find."
"Swain." Ichigo nodded.
"Yeah… him. I'll take responsibility for whatever happens. She seems pretty intent on getting a few things off her mind." Garen sighed again, rubbing his forehead with a mixture of amusement and exhaustion.
"Alright… whatever happens, it'll be on your head. Do you understand?" Ichigo stood still, gaze unflinching as Garen brushed by.
"What was that about?" Ichigo grinned.
"Just another bump in the road…"
A heavy sigh escaped Swain's lips. His eyes drooped low with exhaustion, a group of candles lighting his throne. It belied the true duties of any king, one that could never be escaped. Anger filled his mind, clouded his thoughts.
"This chaos… it never ends, does it?" Swain's eyes pierced through the dim light, catching the general in his gaze.
"Darius…" The man snorted, leaning back into the smooth surface of one of the many stone pillars of the corridor. A smile graced Darius' lip.
"As long as there is war, it gives me a reason to fight. So, what do you plan to do?" Swain's hand gripped his throne tight. The darkness that threatened to consume him, it loomed beneath, bubbling under the surface.
"We must crush this new foe… beneath the heel of Noxus. We cannot allow our people to be slaughtered, our men taken ahold, nor our buildings to crumble. I… no… we will set the foundation for the world after this apocalypse." Darius chuckled a bit at the thought.
Knock
Knock
Knock
Three heavy drums of the metal plate against the entrance alerted him of a new presence. As they opened, many faces could be seen. Different pieces of armor, cloth, equipment. Each beheld strength beyond the normal margin of a single soldier. At the helm was Garen, broadsword strapped to his back, his petricite armor glowed beneath the light of the crimson tinted light of the candles.
Swain's eyes scanned their demeanor. Each one wore an expression befitting those driven by purpose. He respected that.
Garen bowed, prompting most to do the same. Ichigo stood standing at the center, eyes focused ahead.
"There is no need to bow before me, Garen Crownguard. We are here for a discussion, not a battlefield." Garen lifted his head and stood back upright, hands held firm at his waist. Swain shifted in his seat, stopping for a moment to gaze out to the worn city outside the castle. Darkness loomed overhead like a vice around his throat.
"You have come like I have requested. The information you are seeking, well, it is a bit… disturbing." Garen's eyes widened in response.
"What do you mean? Are you saying there is more to it than we've seen?"
"Yes," he interrupted, reaching into his coat with a cord bound parchment. He tossed the object to him, letting it settle at his feet.
"Nearly a month has passed since we have come across this information in the form an odd man we found at our borders with one of our patrols. He was mad, screaming in a tongue not found in Runeterra. But when we captured him, he didn't say anything else. On his belt we found this message soaked in his blood, and inside… well… it seems to be foretelling an event of great importance. A feast, if you would." Garen's clutched the piece of paper, drinking in its contents with a thinly veiled sheen of sweat. What does this mean?
Ten paces to the west,
Three eagles to the east,
Seven arrows poised north.
One table awaits.
The Last Supper draws near. Action must be taken quickly, for if it doesn't… I fear that the gates to hell will be opened, and there will be no opposing its wrath. However, there is a way to stop this.
Mount Targon has fallen, and its protectors scattered. You must seal away the power of these creatures… they fear being trapped within the light. There is a gatekeeper, a warden of sorts. He will hold the key to what lies beneath.
Break their foothold in this world and peace may finally be at hand. Keep in mind that their eyes can see everything, every move you make. Tread cautiously on your journey.
That is all I can tell you. Your mission begins now, huntress.
Garen rubbed his jaw in irritation.
"This doesn't make any sense to me. Who would go so far to send riddles like this? It doesn't help us with these monsters that keep appearing." Clicking his tongue, Swain lifted his hand. Before them, an orb of glass pulsated from below, slowly taking shape from the swirl of magic dissipating. It hissed, standing flat on the rose-colored carpets of his throne.
"I do not hold false hope that our adversary has been weakened by the attack on our capital. However, there is something strange afoot." Garen grit his teeth in the malevolence that seemed to radiate from the use of his magic. It turned his blood to fire. But, he held his tongue.
"This orb, the Dialogue of Sight, as you might call it, lets me see visions not visible to the human eye. You might call this ability premonition, or predetermination. Have you noticed yet the lack of great destruction from the latest of the Void's attacks?" Garen had noticed this as he fought to protect the innocent civilians during their entrance to the city. Despite the many monsters of various size and strength, there were few casualties among the populace.
"Yes. The lack of death seems to be a bit odd. Is this your doing?" Swain shook his head, holding relic before him with a steady gaze.
"Yes. It seems this reacts rather frequently in contact with these beasts. Tell me, have you found the lack of conscience in their rampages odd?" Garen let out a sigh, closing his eyes in disdain.
"No. All I see is an enemy that must be stopped. Though, when we were slaying these beasts, the lack of corpses does press a bit of concern into the back of my mind. What is your goal in telling me this?" Swain chuckled, forming to a full, unnerving laughter. The tone was a bit unsettling, if the shifting in Kayle's stance told anything. The normally silent warrior in gold did not shine at this time. No one did.
"A goal? That's quite bold of you, Garen Crownguard." He flinched at the use of his last name.
"No," Swain continued. "Rather, there is a duty that must be answered. Whoever commands the beasts of the Void is cunning, and cares not for the consequences of our struggle. I believe the key to defeating him to fight without direction. We must continue moving forward even if our hearts are ripped out and bodies are broken to pieces. Failure is no longer an option." Swain clasped his hands behind his back, still clutching the Dialogue of Sight in his palms.
"As for their armies, well, shouldn't it be obvious?" Garen narrowed his eyes, mind numbing at the implications.
"What do you mean? Are you saying that we're wrong?"
"Yes. In fact, the most activity of the Void has, and always been linked with the deserts of Shurima." Garen's hands clenched into fists, eyes lost in thought as he stared into the floor. It may have turned out that we were wrong after all… but…
He faced Swain, vigor filling his body.
I will do what it takes, no matter the cost.
This chapter was a bit confusing, I know. To be honest, I had a hard time formulating how the meeting between Garen, his companions and Swain would go, but I think this fit for where I'm taking this. As for the attack on the Noxus Capital, I know it was pretty short. But the only purpose it held was to take an unbelievable context and make it into a sensible reason for why Swain would agree with Garen's proposition. I'm going to be working on this until I drop out of boredom or whatever excuse I might come up with. But, as I said before, I can't promise updates on a reliable time scale. Keep your eyes peeled though, because this isn't the last chapter of this story, just like the others. Chapters will come with my sporadic inspiration rather than mindless motivation.
PS – As for the lack of mention of Akali, don't be alarmed, I didn't forget about her completely and she's still a relevant character in the long run. I drew a lot of inspiration for this with the new music video that came out a couple days ago. However, I did have the idea for how Ichigo was going to meet Riven along this sort of context anyways, just a little bit of a twist.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned in for the next part of this story.
Agrithnum