XI
Jealousy
Valentine's Day - 7 am
Before Irelia proceeds to her work, she have finished something that is intended personally, then she glanced up to feel the air around her. Right now, the day has now began, the ridicule of everything that counts as sharing love that she heard about from people around her, though this day could be a hassle, of course she was having her 2 day day off, declared by the Duchess.
A sigh escaped to her lips because of how she felt the uncomfort of the day. Unfortunately, there was a knock to her door, she have wondered who could that be; yet she thought that it might be those people who tried to woo her with music and confessions.
"Now what..?" She grunted, leaving her room and stood in front of the door.
She lightly opened the door to see the slit in between of it, so that she could see the light that will bring out the image of the person who was in front of her door. And then, it was all clear, it was someone that was familiar.
She opened the door and welcomed the visitor, this person was wearing a green regalia covered with a soft and thick cloak, her face was masked, also her hair was tied up with a ponytail wrapped in a stick. Behind that mask was a smile that Irelia can tell, she has that same calm, stoic figure that people feared due to its mystery; often mistaken that she was planning hideous.
"It's been awhile, Irelia." The woman said, her voice was muffled behind her mask.
"Yes, I am so delighted to see you in your visit, Akali." Irelia smiled and made room to the kunoichi. "Please come in."
The ninja was amazed that the interior of Irelia's home didn't changed from her last visit up until now, she placed herself on the cushion beside the coffee table as she saw Irelia prepared two cups of tea.
"How are you? I never expected that you'll visit." Irelia said in a tone of welcoming.
"As always, I am fine." Akali replied, right before she unmasked herself, showing her whole face to Irelia. "I thought of visiting you so."
"I see, is there anything that happened to the order?" Irelia asked, taking a sip to her tea.
"Nothing in particular, but Shen is restless nowadays." Akali replied as she sipped her tea. She gasps as her tongue touched that typical bitter taste. "Hm. You never let anyone get away with your tea that is bitter.."
"Well, I liked it bitter than most of it like it sweet." Irelia chuckled at the claim.
"You are..still the Irelia that I have known." Akali laughed, she smiled after her stoic complexity.
"Of course I am." Irelia finished with a warm smile before she pressed the statement that Akali commented earlier.
"Shen was.. in thoughts lately.." Akali started, there was a doubt behind her tone. "Like I feel that he has been thinking about Zed's betrayal again."
It could be true to say at least, Shen was thinking ways to confront Zed, but Zed was that type that was likely about the personality of Syndra but in a way of attaining something that was making him powerful, of course he and Syndra are friends but Shen was still doubting on everything that could possibly happen.
"Does that mean, Zed could probably planning to something that made Shen think of that?" Irelia pressed, concerned of the situation that Shen does.
"Probably." Akali sighed, she take a sip back to her tea again. "That is why I took my leave and let him be alone with Kennen for awhile to give him space.."
"I see." Irelia saddened on the fact. "So, where will you stay?"
"I think of checking in to one of the inns here. I kind of taken of the scenery here of The Placidium." Akali answered. "Also, the event would be troubling. I also heard from one of the ninjas in the Kinkou that Zed could probably hiding somewhere here.."
The fact was indeed plausible because the event made people flock to Ionia, Zed would be planning for something that could possibly bring problems that alarms the whole province.
"I say, as the Captain of Ionian Guard, I will try my best to secure the perimeters." Irelia declared. "It seems that my day off is actually making me busy."
"Well, that's life. We can't tell what fate destined us to do." Akali laughed that brought out a substantial amount of cheer in the room. "Don't worry, I got your back Irelia, also, I have been waiting to work with you."
"Thank you." Irelia muttered, before she opens some topics to change the mood.
"To be honest, Zed visited me last time." Irelia admitted, she hesitates to tell the ninja about it.
"What..?" Akali's tone got hoarsed from what she have heard. "He..VISITED you?"
"It's not that alarming, he only borrowed a thing from me." Irelia added.
"Thing? That was unlikely of him.." Akali wondered why would Zed do that. "What did he borrowed?"
"My binoculars. Like I don't know what for." Irelia finally stated.
"I knew it." Akali went cold this time, her face scowls on the fact Zed was indeed planning to something liberated.
"But, he borrowed it on that day in the festival. Almost before it started." Irelia added to gain Akali a certain interest.
"Now that is suspicious." Akali pondered, she stared at the space, thinking of what could possibly happened.
"My intuition says that he could be spying on something. Or, he is watching over someone he has to take.."
"Also, we are indeed enjoying ourselves in the festival."
"Yes, I have seen you ninjas on the grounds too, Ahri dragged me all the way remember?"
"Yes. But, why we are not aware with this? I also felt it too. Like I am being watched."
"Just to say that, no one got hurt nor experienced hostilities on that day."
"You are right." Akali sighed on relief.
"There is one thing." Irelia started again, Akali got curious to this one.
"What is it?"
"He has still my binoculars." Irelia finished.
"He didn't returned it? Hmph." Akali grunted, she has a grudge to Zed that he has still have plans that he has to perform.
"I am just wondering what for.. Do you want to hear what happened on that day he borrowed my binoculars?" Irelia decided to share some of her conversations with Zed on that day, not denying that Zed's intentions was to borrow a binoculars to do something hideous.
"My ears are ready."
Before that day in the festival
Irelia's room - 5:23 pm
She sat in front of the mirror to fix herself, she has to be formal in front of the mage, her heart beats a little upon thinking about it, also she was not aware that she was afflicted by the charm spell of Ahri.
"I need to go, I have to be early." She mumbled, glancing at the clock to make sure she has still time.
However, she felt a sinister presence that was eyeing on her, not far from her window, at the corner of room.
There was a shadowy figure that formed using the sides of the penumbra, until it created a huge body of a man with glowing red eyes.
Irelia got hostile, she prepared her blades and backs away, but that figure just strolled and glanced at her from head to toe.
"I am not here to waltz your date with whom I have known." He said, his voice was so metallic and low.
"Then, what is it that you want?" Irelia coldly stated as she made a stance.
"You are a type of an Ionian that is easy to deal with." The ninja went closer until he saw the woman's reflection in the mirror. "Also, one that could be attracting."
Irelia cringed a little, she is still backing away for her to anticipate any of Zed's movements.
"A captain like you has also a certain interest of.. things that were bound of your leisure." Zed added, he made an eye contact to the woman in front of her.
"You are wasting my time. If you have something with me, say it." Irelia snarled, she kept her stance and resolute.
"I say, I am quite entertained to these things." Zed went to Irelia's desk and admires the items for her aviation. "What do you call this?"
Zed took Irelia's binoculars on the shelf, she was not enlightened by that, it seems that Zed's purpose was only to take interest to her things.
"Binoculars." Irelia flatly stated.
"What for?" Zed took the item and kept on glancing at it as if he was interested.
"You can view far objects using that. It was just like a glasses." Irelia explained, she thought that enlightening Zed would be fine if he was not having an intention to attack.
Zed tried to use the binoculars as Irelia said, he placed it on his eyes, he gasps as he saw Irelia's face up close.
"Hmph.." He smirked behind his mask. "Interesting.." He viewed downward until..
Irelia shoved her arms which it now covers her chest, she blushed and let the blades cover her view.
"If you are going to use that like..THAT.." Irelia surged forward and snatched the item. "I will confiscate it from you."
"Tch. I see. So that's how it was used." Zed mumbled, smirking at how Irelia was acting. "What are you doing with that? Fool?"
"Since I have taken an interest on aviation.. Looking up farthermost places can be tough, so I bought this from Piltover." Irelia explained.
"Oh. That city that they pride of prosperity? I see." Zed finished. He now glanced at Irelia as if he was needing something.
"Will of the Blades." Zed called, his tone was not that threatening. "I would like to borrow this bountiful item you have."
"You wanted to borrow my binoculars? Alright. But, what for?" Irelia pierced her glare at Zed. "If you are going to use that for-"
"Do YOU think I am that kind of a man?" Zed snarled.
"I am not accusing you of anything. Your actions are indeed suspicious as you were to borrow a thing that has a focal point that was more times greater than a human eye." Irelia spats logically, she kept her gaze locked at those menacing eyes of the ninja.
"Hmph. You are knowledgeable woman. I know you doubt me from using that, yet I have to admit that you have reasonable things that'll help my research." Zed explained, his figure was cloaked with shadows as the night was about to come.
"Before I could let you have my binoculars, I am taken by that research that you pondered." Irelia stated, she placed her binoculars back on where it belongs. "Would you kindly tell me about that?"
Zed was piqued by the sudden interest of the captain, he wondered why Irelia was not hostile like he expects on most Ionians, he see Irelia as one that he usually thought about; that ninja he used to trained with. So this time, he wanted to clarify why Irelia was not trying to make any offense.
"That's..none of your concern. I take my business by my own path."
"I couldn't care less." Irelia spats.
"Hmph.." Zed grunted, he felt the coldness of Irelia's voice.
"Fine." Irelia shoved the binoculars to Zed's hands. "Please return it as possible. The festival was about to start."
"Hm. I will return the favor to you, Will of the Blades." Zed was delighted to have the item he wanted. "..and I would tell those foremost of my research to you in exchange."
"I see, I would be definitely happy to hear you that." Irelia replied, even though she was not interested.
Before Zed leaves the room, he made a last glance at Irelia using the binoculars, unfortunately to him, he accidentally saw Irelia's figure as she was fixing her bow of her waist, Irelia saw him does that, and so, she covered herself again with her blades.
"If you are-"
"I am mistaken, I apologize." Zed quickly muttered, he accidentally adjusted the binoculars with its shallow focal point. "What. It's blurred."
"I forgot to say that this kind of binoculars has an adjustment for its focal point." Irelia started to instruct Zed. "It seems you flicked this bar here without knowing."
"Interesting." Zed nodded.
"You can zoom the vision whenever you like by sliding this wheel here." Irelia pointed the small wheel that was in the center, she thought of lending Zed a hand, it will be disastrous if Zed broke her binoculars.
"Here. Give it a try."
Zed now placed the binoculars towards his eyes, he did what Irelia said to him, he saw Irelia's face up close with the zoom feature of it.
"W-What.." Zed immediately stopped using the binoculars after he saw Irelia's cold expression too close. He was kind of, intimidated by Irelia's face.
"Hmph. I advice that you shouldn't use my face as a subject." Irelia crossed her arms and glared.
"Because I find it too brooding, am I right?"
"Well. Maybe." Irelia stood perfectly, she was about to leave but Zed was still there.
"Hmph." He grunted before he vanished into smoke, leaving the room dark and cold.
"Let's hope he will not do anything suspicious." Irelia mumbled, she have prepared for the night and the appointment she has to attend with.
"That's all?" Akali pressed, she was still in need of information about what happened.
"Yes. How odd, isn't it? He was having a research to something with the use of my binoculars." Irelia sighed, she tapped her fingers to the table and waited for a reply.
"Hm. He could be spying on someone." Akali deduced. "Of course, it was a binoculars, you can view up someone far away from you."
"I guess so, but who?"
"That is, I don't have any idea." Akali finished. Filled with doubts, the kunoichi sighed, she breathes a huge amount of air and exhaled that calms her, in fact this was a part of her meditation of her training.
"Speaking of that.." Akali rummaged her bag and pulled out a letter. "The Duchess wants me to give this to you."
"For me? That's unusual." Irelia took the letter and analyzes it.
"I guess I should leave now, I can't miss the suite." Akali grinned, waving a goodbye to Irelia. "Oh, if Zed comes by, please report it to me."
"I will."
She watches the ninja disappear towards the grassy path that leads to the city, she was delighted to see the ninja was doing well, after those events that she heard about the Kinkou Order; especially to Zed's betrayal. Irelia still see some of Akali's sadness, she just hide it behind that green mask, though it made her look intimidating because of her being as anonymous.
Now Irelia took her time to read the letter, it was new to her that Karma send a letter to her.
Dearest Irelia,
Good day, this will be my first letter to you, I am glad that you'll be able to read this. Regardless on the situation of the event today, I have doubts that there would be a sinistral phenomena that probably would happen today.
I am sorry but, it's just my intuition, I bet you also feel the same as I do. In this case, I would like to talk about this with you. As a friend, I have to let my thoughts be free at the moment with whom I trust.
Sincerely yours,
Karma
"I see, she seems to be worried. Alright." Irelia stated, she prepared herself and left the house, she was wearing her usual normal regalia as a normal citizen. Hearing out a friend was one of her priorities, she was loyal with them, some people wanted to be friends with her but they find Irelia hard to approach, her calm, piercing gaze was one of the facts that she was avoidable.
As soon she reached the city, she made a short detour, she knew where Karma stays all the time if she has the need of freedom; sometimes, Karma and Irelia made conversations to this area about personal things, no one but her and the Duchess has a special place for their solitude time as friends.
She reached a garden that has a pond on the center, there was also a huge blossom tree near the pond with a bench beside it, everything was all beautiful, the blossoms flock around the area, raining the whole area.
"Irelia." She heard someone called her name not far from the entrance. It was Karma, she sat on the bench and waited for Irelia.
"Hello." Irelia greeted, smiling at the stoic Duchess. She now sat beside the woman.
"It's been awhile since we last visited here." Karma started, she watches the blossoms fall freely.
"Yes, it was about.. last month? If I am not mistaken." Irelia thought, she also watches the blossoms, her hand caught a lone blossom that brought her to smile.
"I believe it was." Karma replied, smiling and faced the captain.
Karma is totally different today, she was wearing a long kimono and her usual tiara that implies her as the Duchess, her short hair was perfectly swaying at the wind even though it was just about her neck. As Irelia gazed at the Elder, she felt something amidst but she can't tell what is it, although she declared that it was just the ambiance of the area that gave her the feeling.
"This event made the whole province quiet and busy at the same time." Karma smirked.
"Yes.." Irelia chuckled. "I am so relieved that no one gave me letters today."
"Really? It seems that the day off really works."
"Of course it was." Irelia smiled and made a soft gaze at the elder. "I must thank you, Karma."
Karma felt happy after she heard Irelia spoke her name, it was almost making her heart skipped a beat.
"You are welcome. After all, you are my friend." Karma stated. Both of them smiled at the moment, Irelia now realized that she has to make a word about Akali's claim today.
"So. I heard from Akali that Zed might be lurking around." Irelia immediately reported. "Are we supposedly in need of awareness?"
"If the Master of the Shadows performed his plan unbeknownst to our knowledge, I will uphold everything that will make the whole nation prepared." Karma stated, there was a coldness of her voice. "I hope he would do no harm this time."
"I hope.." Irelia sighed.
"Anyway." Karma coughed a little to clear out her voice. "I find it odd that the Sovereign was not causing any danger lately."
Irelia gasps as she heard about the mage up on the floating island, of course the mage was still having a minor cold but, how come Karma opened a topic about her?
"She probably regaining her usual magic, that could be it." Irelia fidgeted a little.
"Have you visited her today?" Karma opened, she made a serious look that hinder Irelia.
"Not..yet." Irelia finished.
"So you are about to." Karma sighed. "Irelia, please be careful, understand?"
"I will. But, why..?"
"I am..worried. That's all." Karma averted her gaze, she instead watched the leaves fall down on the pond.
"I understand your reasons, do not put any further worries about me, much better if it was to Ionia." Irelia added, this could enlighten Karma for her.
"But Irelia.." Karma now faced Irelia. "Syndra is dangerous. I have known your situation, you can make yourself killed by her!" She raised her voice, it made the atmosphere sad from Karma's tone.
"Karma..I.." Irelia clenched her fists and lowered her gaze. She knew that Karma was so worried to her, especially when she was talking about Syndra.
"I am not forbidding you to visit her but, please, be careful.. I don't want to lose someone that had brought Ionia's peace, also, a friend that I trust." Karma's eyes was filled with sadness. She reached Irelia's robe and grasp it.
"Of course Karma, I will." Irelia smiled as she grasps Karma's tanned hand, she thought it could brighten up Karma a little.
But that simple name call was too much for Karma, her mood came back with it, she really loved Irelia call her name without calling her title.
"Well, I guess it's time." Karma stood up, making Irelia wondered. "Irelia."
The captain stood up and followed because she was used of Karma calling her, she just answered with a light chuckle.
"Why did you stood up?"
"Oh.. I thought of.."
"You are not taking a role of a captain today Irelia, but a simple maiden of Ionia. Also for my part too." Karma further explained.
"Yes. My bad." Irelia pouted, embarrassed by her actions. Karma finds it adorable because she never had seen Irelia be like this.
"I have to, thank for this event, in fact, it made my feelings free for now." Karma now faced again to Irelia, she was anticipating of an action that she has to do.
"Valentine's is a day where your emotion will set free, whether it was romantic or ridicule, emotions from your loved ones and closest friends are part of it, thus it was included to the natural balance." Karma added. "..and so."
"I must thank you, Irelia, for being a friend of mine that I can trust." Karma handed a letter, it was a simple white envelope with a seal that only the top elder has for personal reasons.
"Oh! F-For me?" Irelia was delighted to have a letter from Karma. "Thank you.. I don't have a letter for-.."
"No need, Irelia." Karma interrupted.
"Okay." Irelia smiled. "I always thought that this event was more on those things. But I am mistaken."
"Yes, absolutely." Karma started to leave yet she heard a loud sound from the tree, the birds flocked away; literaly alerted from the snapping sound.
"Hm?"
"What..?"
"I heard something snapped."
"It must be the branches. I should go and check, please don't worry about me, Karma." Irelia bowed and smiled.
"Alright." Karma replied with also, a warm smile before she leaves Irelia. "See you tomorrow."
Both of them parted ways, exchanging smiles and goodbyes. Irelia stood on her footing as she watches Karma disappear throughout the path, then she faced where the snapping sound came from.
She remained calm to ease the tension of the unknown presence behind those trees, with her footsteps went close to the section where the sound came, what she have seen was nothing but scraps of paper, torn into bits of pieces that cannot undo once again.
Irelia wondered what could be the sound, it will be absurd if the tearing of the paper was the cause of the noise. She circled around to investigate to see any clues that could bring light to the mystery, then there is one thing that made her investigation paid of, there was an indication etched on the bark of the tree, it was almost vague to say because it was likely a burn. She touched the dark patch and gasps, she felt mana; a strong one, filled with something that is discharged by a powerful force of emotion.
Anger. That was the word her mind settled on describing the burn, yet suddenly a question sprang up her senses. Why?
"I feel like I am being judged by who.." She whispered, saddened at the same time.
"What is this? I don't know." Irelia sighed, turning her heel away and proceeds to leave the area. Until the pieces of paper has been flown along with the wind, fluttering with the blossoms.
Syndra sprawls more energy until she made a strong discharge on a surface, her mind was a mess, filled with hatred on that person.
She screamed and cried as she flings spheres, summoning them around the ground, creating seismic vibration.
At the tree was a ninja busy flickering the binoculars, he was making adjustments to the device for him to make easy observations. He was strucked and interrupted by the waves that Syndra was causing, of course his friend was furious. So furiously in need of kiling.
He grunted as he glances on the mage. "Let it go. Nothing will change anything."
"SILENCE!" Syndra barked, she throwed a sphere on the edge of the tree.
"I would feel the same if I saw the one I have been eyeing on has been taken." The fox near the tree spoke. "Also, you are there as well, why didn't you made a distraction to make an interruption?"
"I have no plans of making any disturbance." Zed finished, glancing at the binoculars.
"I also have BEEN wondering what is that thing?" Ahri pointed at the device that Zed was fiddling.
"It is called Binoculars. Right now, I have taken an interest of this precious item." Zed answered. He was kind of, delighted on how he express his feelings to the item.
"More likely you can marry that thing instead of killing someone? That's nice, you can make children with that because of your interest." Ahri stated, crossing her arms as a reply.
"..What?" Zed glared at Ahri. "How dare-"
His hand slipped as the binoculars floated, Syndra took the device and made a deathly glare that could threaten the two.
"Wait. Don't." Zed gasps. He made light steps to move close but Syndra summoned a sphere that blocked his way.
"This thing is making YOU an imbecile." She angrily spats. Her voice was menacing and echoed throughout her fortress. "You lost your way like those ninjas YOU have BEEN watching!"
"Calm down Syn-" Ahri tried to lower the tension but Syndra didn't take it a chance.
"And you should kept your mouth shut this time, or else I will make it bleed." The mage interrupted.
Zed sighed behind his mask, his energy takes time to regain after he made a teleportation with Ahri, he thought Syndra needs a hand although he was indeed hostile with Syndra's outbursts. Somehow, his Order feared the Sovereign because of her malevolent and omnipotent power.
"I am so disappointed on you Zed. I always thought YOU make adjustments for me TO make advances to those Ionians especially on that Duchess!" She gripped her hands forming into fists, the power that grasps the device tightened.
"You think your anger will solves everything with that?" Zed snarled. "If you dare make any damage-"
"You'll get upset? I see. How intriguing." Syndra finally hit the nerve and made a light squeeze to the device.
Her power made a tight grip as the device was now deforming, the lenses cracked until shattered, the two beside the trees were shocked to see the item turned into a crushed pieces, but the one who reacted the most was Zed, he shoved his way to the binoculars' pieces and crouched.
"What have you DONE?!" Zed screamed, there was a metallic voice boomed on his mask.
"Oh? Going to sob now to your poor thing?" Syndra caustically stated, smirking at Zed's expression.
"She will-!" Zed paused and grunted at the same time, not denying he was about to say the name of the its owner. "You don't know how MUCH this item costs!"
"You think I care? Since when you became pitiful by an ITEM like that?!"
"This came from that city of prosperity, expensive and was bought by the sweat from work." Zed fought back against the mage.
"Since when you work? You work only with those petty ninjas until they cry that you are their master." Syndra provoked.
"I am DONE by your never ending claims." Zed got tired out of reasoning and let it slip by. Once he was finished, he noticed a writing; a beautiful handwriting that was stroked by an experienced hand in calligraphy.
A certain shard was marked with an ink saying, Ire, in symbols of Ionian language. He thought that there could be a shard that will form the missing piece to complete the name.
"Hmph. Now my debt on her was broken." Zed murmured. He stood up and shoved his masculine figure on the edge of the land.
"What?" Ahri wondered. "Her? Who?"
"It is best that Syndra would deduce who is she." Zed answered, stoically. "I will leave now, my energy was set."
"Maybe. I will leave as well." Ahri spoke before she made a last glance at the furious mage.
"I am out of ideas what will I say to her. Maybe, I will say I broke her binoculars. No. How will I repay her?" Zed whispered, his voice was muffled and unheard.
"Come again?" Ahri's ears perked up after she heard a voice behind Zed's mask.
"None of your business." Zed spats. "Are you done?"
"Be our way then. See you some other time Syndra."
The Master of the Shadows chanted and summoned a portal, both he and the fox has been sucked inside and made their way on the grounds of the country, leaving Syndra alone with countless shards from her outburst.
As they reached the ground, Ahri stretched a little and thanked Zed for the transport, she made herself calm because of how Zed can be dangerous. She now asked why Zed was in deep of thoughts.
"That device is not my keeping. I only borrowed the item." Zed answered.
"Borrowed? How come you borrow items now?" Ahri disdained a little.
"It's only a chance of attaining something that could bring answers to my observation. And that person helped me a lot."
"Tell me. Who is this 'she' person?"
"Who else?" Zed faced away and glanced back at the fox, anticipating to leave. "That captain. That very most captain that was indeed different among the others. The one who can be neither, whether an enemy or an ally."
"You mean.." Ahri gasps as she finally realized who it was.
"It's her. That is why I have no idea what will I say to her about that item." Zed got saddened a little. It was unlikely for him.
"Why? Don't tell me she will kill you if you tell her that her binoculars was broken?" The fox laughed.
"I made deals with her about that. Return the item I borrowed and I will exchange my observations with her, even it costs information about my movements."
"That was, interesting." Ahri hummed. "Sharing secrets to an enemy? How..lovely."
"But, it's over. The item was now gone. She even said that she bought that for her own happines which is her leisure."
"Really?" Ahri was astonished. "That's.. not good at all. I have known humans will definitely not be happy when they lost something precious to them, even it was not that special."
"Hmph. Maybe I will return the price by buying her a new one. I don't know." Zed sighed.
"Well, that would be a possible solution to that." Ahri stated. But as she made her words, she heard a rustle behind the bush. Her senses worked up and prepare for it.
"Did you hear that Ze-"
She was now left alone. It was clear that Zed finally escapes and made his way back to his Order.
Ahri stood and sighed, she knew that someone was here with them that lurks in the shadows, ironic it seems it was all true. Behind the bush was also a ninja and familiar to her being, she is wearing a robe, a green mask and a regalia.
On what she have expected, it was Akali all the time.
"Ahri, why.." Akali's voice is showing resentment. "Why are you-"
Quickly, she used her magic to calm Akali, she grabbed her chin and forces her to stare at those golden orbs that was filled with pink magic, emanating inside of markings of her pupils.
"Shh.." Ahri silenced Akali with her finger. "Not now, Akali. I want you to stay. Low and refined."
Then she let go of Akali, the ninja was dazed by the effects of the charm spell that binds her whole system, her hands dropped her weapons and got loose.
With a flick of her finger, Akali went back, her head pains a little after the magic entered her body.
"Ahri." Akali stated. "Let..me get this straight."
"Yes?"
"You talked with..Zed. Right?"
"Yes."
"What did you two talked about?"
"Nothing serious. It was about Irelia's binoculars."
"Oh. That."
"Hm? How come you knew this?"
"Irelia told me today that Zed borrowed her binoculars." Akali replied, she sighed in relief as her focus went back again.
"She did? Well, Zed is really in hanging right now." Ahri admits the fact.
"Why anyway?"
"Please don't tell Irelia about this. Promise?" Ahri begged Akali for the secrecy. "Or else.. I will hunt you. If you know what I mean.."
"A-Alright." Akali was flustered after she got the message. "So..what is it?"
"To be honest, Syndra destroyed Irelia's binoculars, now Zed has no idea what will he say to Irelia about this. He thought of buying a new one as a compensation." Ahri explained with honesty that Akali has started to trust.
"Oh, I see. That's unlikely of him." Akali's tone went low, she was not kind of interested to Zed's situation.
"But, I knew that Syndra will be in panic right now. After she realize what use is that item." Ahri smirked.
"Yes, it was Irelia's. I think she will wonder what will Irelia think about it. In fact, Irelia told me that she bought that device alongside with her aviation hobby; with the gold she earned from her work.." Akali added to inform the fox.
"Hm, I bet it was expensive as well." Ahri pouted. "Poor Irelia.. She bought that with her earnings even though she always fights with papers in her work!"
"Well.. Yes.." Akali got drained after hearing that. "It was so deliberating as a captain. She works so hard, she even asks overtime if ever she missed her work day."
"She also took delivery jobs as well!" Ahri chirped a little.
"What? Really? Even when her hands are filled with papers all day?" Akali was shocked to hear that information.
"Of course. I saw her flying twice across the map with a parcel, she was often seen by humans, so she flew higher enough for them to unsee, that is why I haven't seen her flying around these days." Ahri got dazed on how she sees Irelia that time, wearing with an aviator suit.
"Now I feel bad. I hope Zed will come up with an idea how to compensate the loss." Akali said in a pleasing tone.
"He is a shadow so.." Ahri nudged Akali as a confirmation.
"Right."
"Shall we? I would love to accompany with you."
"Of course, I don't think the inn keeper will let you in."
"Oh, they WILL let me in. Trust me."
Behind those trees was Zed, he was still lurking for him to overhear the conversation of the women, but he didn't mattered at all, he just watched the ninja like him, more like observing her as well.
"Do you think I couldn't come up a plan? Don't underestimate me. I will fix this problem of mine." Zed smirked behind his mask.
"Also.. I must thank Syndra for.. ruining the deal I have with the captain. It forces me to..SPEND my savings." He grunted because of what happened, sarcastically with his annoyed expression behind his mask as he vanished along with his shadows.
"Now he left a trash here." Syndra mumbled, she caught a glimpse of the shards of the broken binoculars.
She was still agitated on what happened, her mind was settled at that very most moment she have seen throughout her glowing vision. That moment where the one she hated the most was having leisure with the one she see as different, she felt so mad, she even has desires to destroy the whole land below her.
"I feel..so MAD!" She screams, her voice was enveloped with malevolence through her power. "I wasted that LETTER WITH NOTHING!"
Before she could do anything, her sight ends up staring at the debris of the device, she grunted as she remembered Zed went so much unlikely while he was using it; somehow, Zed was just like observing far enough from his red eyes, that is why he is using the device.
"What's special about this THING?" She wondered angrily, her power lifted the shards and made its way on Syndra's viewpoint.
"Nothing but filth." She commented, describing how the aftermath of the binoculars looked like.
"I can't believe that pathetic Duchess went far ahead from me." She added, her blood boils a little as she spoke the word he had been hating. "I don't CARE if you two are FRIENDS. That FOOL CAPTAIN and I made MORE things than YOU!"
"But. That. Fool Captain. You let yourself got affected by that- DUCHESS!" Syndra expresses her anger again, with the spheres that rotates around her being.
"I WISH that I didn't met YOU."
She throws the shards one by one across the sky and watched it fall, she was not aware that she was about to throw something that was far more valuable than the binoculars itself until she saw a black and odd thing that caught her eye.
She stopped throwing and took a peek, seeing a handwriting was peculiar to her because of the thing such as this binoculars has markings she didn't quite expected.
Syndra made her eyes squint to read symbols of Ionian writing for her to specify what is it.
"Li..a." She reads until. "..lia. What? Lia? What is that?"
"Lia? Is that a word?" Syndra asked herself. She took her time to look for shards that are same as this one. Each piece, she analyzed, every shard, she deduce, just to know what is the mystery behind those symbols.
At last she saw the last piece, she have seen it on the ground where Zed crouched, she took it and reads.
"Ire." She dictated, her realization was about in seconds after her mind went stray. Quickly, she attached the last shard that discovered right after she was about to dispose with the one she have been found.
And the shards perfectly matched, the crack was intact by the other, in fact, this shard was a part of the binoculars' base where the handwriting was written hideously.
The symbols tells a different story, her realization made her guilty. The symbols shed light to her dark questions, the shards formed symbols 'Ire' and 'lia' in a perfect writing.
"Impossible.. this thing was..hers?" Her voice softened, filled with guilt. "How on earth Zed was using this?"
She once remembered that Irelia told her that she loves aviation, reaching high places with her blades was one of the personal interest of the captain, the passion she expresses made her inspired of doing a fun activity that only her can enjoy, with that fact, she bought things for aviation from Piltover from her savings as a working captain.
Of course, she was the one who destroyed such precious item came from Irelia's efforts. The technology of the item was telling her that it was expensive, she also deduced that the reason why Irelia was saving gold for a wireless phone is because her savings went to her aviation kit.
She was silenced by the thought, what is done cannot be undone, she even have thrown some shards and glass across the sky just to ease her egoistic temper.
"Oh.." She felt empty, how will she face Irelia after she was the one who destroyed the device that came from Irelia's efforts?
"It's just an item, there is nothing special."
"But.."
"It's still hers.."
She sighed.
"I saw how she was so excited whenever she tells me about her likes."
In order to bring justice to her wrongdoings, she placed the shards that was left in a box near of her desk, she gave a thought of returning the debris and ask compensation about it, though her actions were all the fruit of her sprouting jealousy.
NOTE:Oh no! Syndra! Her jealousy made her do an inevitable act, and poor Zed, he stresses how he will be able to compensate the loss.
Anyway, now this chapter introduces the entrance of the minor characters including Zed, Karma and Akali.
Next chapter will be about how Syndra will be able to cope the loss. Stay tuned!