Author's Note: Hello readers! In case why are wondering, I will be reminding you that THIS story is retained from the OLD lore; despite that our beloved Irelia is reworked, I made sure that the story flows accordingly on how it began in which is her OLD lore.
--
XIX
Picturing a Moment
"Where do you want to go?"
"Somewhere we can be alone."
"..We are alone together right now."
"Hmph! No. WE have to leave. I feel unsafe on this country!"
"But-"
"I said we need to LEAVE."
She sighed as she was attacked by Syndra's stubbornness, the hesitation of the mage having someone to interrupt the moments again is scaling up so high that she wanted to leave Ionia.
"Remembered HOW the moments we had got INTERRUPTED?!" Syndra shouted as she made Irelia hint those times with her.
"It's just the matter of coincidence." Irelia answered flatly. She fixated her aviator suit that was newly washed.
"Coincidence? Pathetic. I can't believe how lucky that coincidence could be." Syndra crossed her arms while she averted herself.
Irelia stood at Syndra's bedroom floor, waiting for her to get ready, but the mage is currently unsettled on the trip they have planned.
"You must have forgotten what plan we will do today." Irelia started.
"How could I forget the plan that my Irelia and I had planned?" The mage smirked, leering at the same time.
"Well.." The captain coughed, blushing after she heard the mage spoke. "S-So.. What plan had we planned then?"
"Easy." The mage stood up and floated. "A date!"
"D-Date?" Irelia have her eyes widened.
"Of course!"
"But we will be aviating.."
"If only the two of us involved, then it IS a date!"
"Aviation is not a date.."
"What. ARE YOU denying me?!"
Irelia sighed, knowing that the mage is clueless at the meaning of 'date', she could explain Syndra about the term a little bit.
"To put it bluntly, I can tell this is a date. But I never thought about that this could be a date in the first place." Irelia made her judgement.
"So you mean you ARE-"
Irelia raised her hand to halt Syndra.
"What I want is to.." She sighed and made a couple of breaths. "..is to experience how it feels of being with someone that I..spent the most with the hobby that I loved."
Literally it caused delightfulness to the mage, how wonder she never had heard those words before. And so, with Syndra's hesitation, Irelia made an adjustment to fulfill what the mage wanted.
"I have a proposal." Irelia stood up from sitting before she faced the mage.
"Proposal?! Yes! I do!" The mage screamed, gleaming with happiness yet she just pretends to do so since she often sees Irelia's reactions entertaining.
"N-No! It's not like that!!" Irelia fought back with her cheeks reddening.
"You said proposal so I am ready to take your commitment!" Syndra added, how she loved Irelia's reactions.
"IT'S not like that! What I mean is I have a suggestion!"
"Hmph!" Disappointed, Syndra grunted on how Irelia can be hard to soften, and so she has no choice but to let the woman speak for her suggestion.
What Irelia wanted is to take Syndra in a place where she had visited from her aviation: A mountain, far away from the city. She also suggested she could try mountain trekking and viewing.
"Trekking. Huh." Syndra had the feeling to try the activity.
"Yes. It's an adventure, to say at least." Irelia smiled as she thought that Syndra might be interested.
"What does that do?" The mage clarifies for her to know.
"For starters, they often see it as climbing, but what they didn't know is that mountain trekking is more than that. Of course, it includes camping." Irelia explained thoroughly.
"Camping.. I never had it before." The mage murmured.
"That's why we are going camping! And yes, mountain trekking at the same time!"
"So.. what does camping do?" Syndra asked again as if she was so clueless on things. "Tch! This is ridiculous. I know nothing."
"It's alright. That's why I am inviting you to camp with me." Irelia finishes with a smile, just to make the mage comfortable.
"Ah." Syndra averted herself to hide her blush. "Hm.. tell me."
"Camping involves like this: Pitch a tent, build a campfire that gives warmth, cook meals, sing songs, talk about everything and lastly, enjoy the view of the scenery around you." Irelia sparkled with happiness, it's been awhile since she talks about this kind of topic. Literally, she was excited to have that moment again.
"Interesting.." Syndra hummed, she was thinking of something. "So..we are going camping, right?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
"Only the two of us?"
"Y-Yes.." Irelia started to blush.
"We are going to sleep together in a tent.. right?" Syndra asked softly.
"W-Well.. obviously.." Irelia got uncomfortable with the sudden questioning as if Syndra was planning something.
"Hm.. interesting." The mage finally made a smirk before she turned her heel and faced her wardrobe.
Now the mage is occupied fixing and preparing her things, Irelia sat on the bed and made a thought about the plan. Her plan was to visit the mountain on Navori; the province was imbued with magic that scholars often stay for training. There is a mountain there that stood erectly with the tip that almost reaches the peak of the skies, it was one of the tallest mountains in Ionia that she had visited once with her family.
However, that province can be dangerous for Syndra, since she was the most wanted person of the country, she can be noticed by her mana. The power she possesses can track her down, also with her physical appearance.
And she can't deny that Navori is the homeland of the most influenced person of Ionia; the Duchess Karma, well even herself.
Suddenly, she felt something warm that was pressed on her soft cheek, a hand that pulls her face towards on the direction where that warmth located, as she faced to her right, she saw the mage's face close to her. The mage literally made a peck on her cheek.
"Syndra!" The captain blushed, shocked to see the mage doing intimacy on her.
"What. I can't resist it, you are so adorable while you are thinking." Syndra admitted, her face was still at close.
"Please don't assault me like that.." Irelia pouted, with her blush plastered on her cheeks.
"Oh, so YOU prefer being assaulted with consent." Syndra laughed at the woman's reaction.
"It's not like that.."
"Hmph. Just admit it!"
"Oh come on! Go back packing things already!" Irelia slowly pushes Syndra to convince her to finish packing.
"I am already done, foolish captain~" The mage whispered as she pointed at her bag, it was ready to take on an adventure.
"Ah.." The captain got tickled from the mage's breath.
"Hmph. So finally, we can do some THINGS together.." The mage teased, she embrace the woman tightly as her suit got folded by her arms.
"Not so fast, Sovereign." Irelia halted the mage by pushing her face away.
"Hmph! Boring." The mage grunted as her voice got muffled due to Irelia's hand pushing her face away.
"Before we proceed.." Irelia started. "We are going to the mountain via flight."
"I don't mind, I am excited to fly with your blades." The mage replied. "Of course, avoiding pesky Ionians is easy. Oh. With the exception of you.."
"Right.." Irelia coughed, she prepared for her next explanation. "We are going to land on the base of the mountain. Don't worry, the mountain is isolated to the public, only mountaineers are present there; some of them came at the foreign lands."
"Why there are not much Ionians present?" Syndra clarified.
"Because they have no power to climb the mountain, those who seek enlightenment are expected for their training." Irelia nodded to her own explanation.
"Hm.. I see. As long as I am with you, I am safe." Syndra smiled, she rested her head on the captain's shoulder. "You are going to be my tour guide. You will treat me professionally this time!"
"Of course, I will!" Irelia laughed as well, she made a promise for Syndra to believe her; literally she always knew that Syndra sees her trustworthy even without further explanations.
After few minutes of preparation, the Ionians stood outside the Sovereign's home, facing the sheet of white clouds that spread across the skies.
Syndra wore a casual robe; a robe that is informal in terms of dress code. She wore the robe for her to blend in, yet Irelia suggested something.
"Would you like to dress more than that?" Irelia asked, facing herself to the mage.
"What?"
"I have a spare of my jacket inside my wardrobe, and I am willing to let you borrow it." Irelia said as she prepares her blades.
It will be wise if she could wear a jacket rather than a simple robe for the plan, the mountains of Ionia has a climate that could exceed to low degrees; some of it are, though, having Irelia's things can be delightful for her.
"Alright." Syndra finally agreed. She went beside the captain, holding her tight as her foot manages to feel the coldness of the blades' base even though she is wearing sandals.
"And..we will rid off that footwear." Irelia pointed at the mage's feet.
The moment they arrived the house is when Irelia hastily scuttled inside her home to fetch those things she have missed and for Syndra, she let the mage wait for a bit at the garden hallway. Syndra sighed and went at ease, her mind clears little by little with her hopes of the trip, she never had done this before when she was still an acolyte in the temple where her masters are the elders.
Gazing ahead visualizes a serene garden the may have taken care of by the captain. Speaking of Irelia herself, she wonders what is Irelia's life is, it would be a best opportunity to ask since they will be having a trip.
"Hm.." The mage pondered. "I forgot." She rummages her bag and pulled out something. It was the box where she placed all of the binoculars' shards, which she had destroyed.
"Hmph. She will forgive me, I know Irelia."
"Of course she will." A voice said beside her.
"And why is that?" Syndra nonchalant asked, not knowing that she made a reply to a visitor.
"Because she is sweet! That's why!" The person chirped.
"How sweet then?" She chuckled at the response. "..Wait."
Syndra paused.
"What?" She asked.
"What?" The person asks as a reply.
With the realization, she glances at the person, those tails are rubbing her dress; the person is much familiar than the people she had talked before.
"What. THE. HELL?!" Syndra stood up and pointed. "What are YOU doing here?!"
"Oh! I really LOVE watching you two.." Ahri clapped her hands and smiled. "Hey! Where will you two go?"
"THIS IS NOT AN EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIP, YOU INFANT!" Syndra snarled.
"Hey!"
"And MIND your OWN business! Our trip is ONLY for two of us!"
"I just want to watch!"
"Watch!? Oh, so FINALLY. YOU'RE going to show off your MUTT skills to STALK!"
"Rude! STOP it! I am a FOX!"
"I don't care!"
Before she could speak, there is a flash that sparked in front of them.
"What the hell is that?!" Ahri gasps at a device.
In front of them was Zed, he was humming while glancing at the device he held so much care.
"DON'T tell me you borrowed THAT from her!"
"Why yes, I cannot say this device is far more bountiful than the binoculars." Zed made clicks on the device, he is adjusting something.
"What is that?! LET ME!" Syndra tried to snatch the device.
"Hold it, don't you DARE. You have ruined the binoculars before!" Zed pulls away, not trying to let Syndra touch the device. "Do you KNOW what is this?"
"What?"
"It's called Camera. The captain has a spare with her, and I asked nicely to let me have it for awhile." Zed presented he was eager to explain the device to the women.
"Is she rich or something?" Ahri wondered.
"She said this camera was given to her accidentally. She doesn't use it often."
"Does that included to her Aviator kit?"
"Likely it is." Zed sighed and pointed at the camera to his eye, and made a shot to the garden.
The women stared in awe Zed caught a nice shot of the garden, he humbly presented it on the ladies.
"Wow! This..'Camera' thing made that?!" Ahri has her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Hmph! It's up to the SKILL of the person who does the capture to make an amazing shot." Zed stood humbly, he was proud to the shot he have created.
"Let me!? I want to try!" Ahri tried to ask but Zed declines.
"Aww.. WHY NOT?!" Ahri saddened and tantrumed.
"So you can capture moments..huh." Syndra made a thinking gesture as she anticipated to take the camera away from Zed. She sneakily slipped her magical bindings to the camera and quickly snatched it away, giving Zed a horrified gesture.
"What are you doing?! Return it!" Zed barked.
"How DARE you barked ORDERS at me?! I just want to see this camera a try!" Syndra glances at the camera and analyzes it.
"So I saw you clicked this button-" Instantly, the camera captured what it was pointed at, and it is Syndra's face. The camera made a flash that blinded the mage, without knowing, she dropped the camera.
The two gasps, Zed was the most affected. Deep inside, he was panicking on the camera, until he slipped his shadow below and let it suck the camera inside before it reaches the ground. The shadow returns and the camera safely went to Zed's hands.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Syndra shrieks to the pain from her eyes. "Argh!"
"FOOL! Why on EARTH would you point the camera in front of your face!?" Zed shouted as he pressed the gallery, what he have seen is a picture of Syndra's face up close with an awkward angle; which is that the nose is bigger than her face, a low angle shot that was terribly bad; literally the mage's face looks bloated and unproportionally big. The fox beside him began to snicker until she bursted to laughter.
"What?!" Syndra wondered why the fox is laughing.
"Look at this masterpiece you have CREATED!" With his mask on, it's hard to tell if Zed is snickering or what, but his tone is definitely trying to mock the mage.
"D-DELETE THAT!" Syndra snarled as she was so embarrassed to the shot. She hurriedly pressed something on the camera that made the ninja gasp.
"That is not THE delete button! What have YOU done!!" Zed pulls away with anger, he pressed the delete button near the arrow keys, but what he have seen is a message.
ERROR Deleting LOCKED image
He panicked, making the mage a possible blame for the message.
"Now LOOK what you have done! You locked the photo and I can't delete it anymore!" Zed started a confrontation. He showed Syndra the message angrily.
"HAHAHA!! Even the camera doesn't want to delete the most AMAZING masterpiece!" Ahri continued laughing.
"SHUT UP!" Syndra got humiliated.
"You pressed the lock button that made the picture bound! YOU must be blamed!" Zed accused angrily.
"How should I know ABOUT that device?! I am not familiar with technology!" Syndra made an explanation.
"And why on earth you hurriedly pressed BUTTONS without common knowledge about this device?!"
"B-BECAUSE that PHOTO is a HUMILIATION and MUST be deleted!" Syndra screamed back, she was so embarrassed.
"Now I have no choice but to let the captain fix this!" Zed sighed, he knew that Irelia might scold him for the camera.
He still pressed the button to make the picture gone, but it kepts on showing that message over and over again.
"Error again." Zed grunted. "IT'S YOUR FAULT! I cannot erase it!"
"Oh my God!" Ahri is laughing again.
"SHUT UP! I AM GOING TO WRAP YOUR TAILS AROUND YOUR MOUTH IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP!" Syndra surged her power as embarrassment continued to affect her feelings.
Zed kept staring at the most terrible shot of the mage's face, his expression turned into a snicker and finally he bursted laughing; his voice has it's sinister tone because of his mask.
"I can't believe this is a MASTERPIECE!" Zed sarcastically commented.
"Like I said, the camera doesn't want it to be erased!" Ahri added.
"The face of defeat!" Zed joked as he laughed again.
"HA!" Ahri laugh like she heard a best joke ever. "Oh my god! It's likely it is! A face of defeat!!"
"SHUT..UP!" Syndra had enough of the humiliation. Her cheeks was in red.
"Oh look. We can rename the image." Zed piqued his discovery.
"You know what to do.." Ahri leered, she hinted what to name the picture.
Zed tapped the arrow keys and inputted the name, The Face of Defeat . He began laughing along with the fox.
And finally. The laughing made a certain individual entered the scene, she was holding a bag and a clothing. She saw Syndra having issues with the two that is currently laughing at her.
"What's going on?" Irelia asserted the situation. She placed the things below first before she pass to the garden.
"I-Irelia!" Syndra hovered behind and hugged her tight. "Those BUFFOONS are an annoyance! And a HUMILIATION! Do something!"
"What..? Humiliation?" Irelia faces the two. She caught the camera was held by Zed carefully with his hand.
"Irelia!" Ahri wiped her tears from laughing. "You'll definitely love this!"
"See." Zed jeered, he is in verge of laughing again.
"Don't LOOK at it!" Syndra quickly covers the camera's screen to avoid being seen.
"What's this? Admit the face of defeat!" Zed laughed again.
"SILENCE!" Syndra shoved him with the blast of her magic. "And you TOO!" She include the fox.
"Hey!" The fox pouted. "Come on! Can you JUST enjoy the masterpiece?!"
"Before we could proceed.." He coughed, walking towards the captain. "Look at this."
"I SAID-"
"Syndra. Let me. We cannot assess the situation if we haven't seen what is the problem here." Irelia said, she was oblivious on what Syndra is pointing at.
"N-No!!" The mage went distressed. "You.. YOU WILL LAUGH AT IT!"
"Why? Why should I laugh..-" Irelia said as soon she saw the The Face of Defeat. She paused and raised her hand, covering her mouth as she made a small snicker.
"Y-YOU!!.." Syndra got embarrassed. "YOU SAID YOU WILL NOT LAUGH!"
"Who..t-took this shot?" Irelia kept snickering just to hide her verge of laughter.
"Who ELSE?! That 'FACE of Defeat' herself!" Zed pointed at the mage, emphasizing the face to make it sound more laughable.
And Ahri finally bursted in laughter, her tails wagges endlessly this time.
"And what's worse?" Zed snickered until he laugh at the end. "The camera doesn't want it to be disposed!"
He showed Irelia the message, the error shows up with capitals and totally hinting that this crucial.
"She even made it lock! Now it can't be erased!" Zed explained adding a set of glare to the.. Face of Defeat herself.
"Oh goodness.." Irelia sighed. She accessed the options tab and pressed something, now she can delete the photo whenever she pleases.
"How..How did you?!" Zed gasps with amazement. The women got the word and went beside them.
"It's fixed?! THEN DELETE IT!" Syndra smiled as her humiliation vanished.
"Woah.. How did she fixed it?" Ahri asked.
"It's just the locked properties are on, I turned it off." Irelia smiled as she explained. She gave the gallery a worth of shot by rummaging it, she saw Zed's shot to her garden.
"Impressive." Irelia praised.
"Of course. I am The Master of the Shadows." Zed equipped his pride.
"That is not connected to that.." Irelia squinted and sighed.
"And.." She finally pressed the button and the screen presented the terrible shot, reading the name that Zed inputted. "I present the..The Face of Defeat."
"Yey.." Irelia snickered while the other two bursted laughing.
"OH MY GOD!"
"That FACE!" It's rare to hear Zed laughed heartily on something which IS ridiculous
"It sells so much than everything!"
Syndra got silenced as she was humiliated. However..
"I am going to lock and hide this, I cannot let this rare shot slip by." Irelia smiled. She tapped something and the image is gone.
"What?" Zed gasps.
"HA! The FACE of defeat!" Syndra laughed as she pointed at Zed's gesture, also returning back the humiliation to the ninja.
"No! What have you done!?"
"You'll not going to access it unless you will input a password. Sorry, I made the photo private." Irelia grinned and handed it to Zed.
"Impossible! That photo is a MASTERPIECE that ironically created by her worst knowledge of technology!" Zed kept tapping the camera.
"WHAT?!" Syndra barked back at him.
"Too bad, Zeddie Boy. Looks like fun is over.." Ahri sighed and smiled.
"Why didn't YOU delete it?" Syndra whispered to Irelia.
"It's a rare shot of you. I will put it to my album."
"What?! YOU WHAT?!" Syndra felt the horrors after she heard that despite of Irelia will PUT the worst photo she has in her life in an album.
"It's a part of my journal about you. Honestly.. I made one yesterday.." Irelia fidgeted, she avoided eye contact.
"Oh.. Hm.." Syndra smiled. "I would LIKE to see it."
"Not yet.." While Irelia made a choice, she grasps her sling bag, much likely she was hinting what plan will she do.
"Hmph. Enough of this. My order will definitely like this device!" Zed summoned a portal, and vanished.
And lastly, the fox was gone as well. Without them knowing, Ahri just hid behind the bushes to stalk them.
"Tch. Finally." Syndra stretches her muscles and sighed.
"I hope Zed will not going to do something shady."
"He ALWAYS does that. What can YOU expect?"
"Oh well. Back to our plan. I took my jacket with me, and my shoes. You should try fitting them!"
"Alright then." Syndra passed at the direction where her belongings located. She lifted a box and presented it to Irelia.
"What's this?" Irelia opened the box and saw the shards of her binoculars.
"I say, I apologize of ruining your precious thing." Syndra said, intently watching Irelia's expression.
"It's alright. Apology accepted." Irelia smiled warmly. " I always knew that Syndra is not good of handling devices like these."
"Hm.. Well." Syndra hummed. "That buffoonish ninja can be oblivious to what he has to borrow. I feel sorry for your camera."
"Don't worry, I told him if ever he ruined it, he will costs much more than the camera." Irelia chuckled.
"Gold? Perhaps?"
"Yes. Gold. He has to present me gold instead of the device. I tasked my soldiers to report as soon as possible if there would be a thievery happened that was accumulated to the gold he presented. He can't steal this time."
"Poor him." Syndra laughed.
"Anyway.. How's the jacket?"
"Oh! Right. Want to see me dress?" She leered.
"What? No."
"No? I can see that you are interested.."
"Oh! Geez. HURRY up! Go ahead!" Irelia pushes the mage towards the nearest room where she can dress.
Preparation takes time, but with Syndra's help, it was done by just few minutes. Stuffed inside her bag was her clothes for the trip. How she was so excited to the plan that the captain and her made.
Their departure took them high enough from the ground, so high enough for anyone to see. However, Ahri manages to sense their mana from below, she didn't hesitated to follow them, she snuck inside the teleportation nexus near the City Hall just to reach Navori. What an efforted way to stalk someone.
--
Meanwhile..
At The Order of the Shadows Temple..
The floor darkened as a cloud of dark mist formed a small tornado in a circular motion, the mist uncovered a shape of a man who is fiddling the camera with his gloved hand. So far, his skills in taking a shot makes him more humble, he find this activity a delightful way to spend his free time and to ease stress. But speaking of stress, with his thumb pressing the right arrow button, the screen transitions from the image of a serene garden to the MOST, no, WORST shot of the year entitled The Face of Defeat.
Zed snorted and ends up laughing on the hall, echoing the long corridor with his metallic laugh, because look at this image; an image of his friend with a huge nose, bloated shape of the face and wide lips, and for the love of god, the angle is making it more laughable.
HAHAHAHA
With that laughter, his eyes teared up, adding up his abdomen hurts him from the laughter, he lowered his form, supporting his body by placing his hand on his knees, with the other hand that holds the camera while the screen facing in front of his face. Continuous laughter is heard on the halls.
Some ninjas are working on with their training, and his student is walking beside with his friend on the hall, chatting with him behind the mask that is literally same as Zed's but exclude the metallic one; it's just a tight-faced mask that perhaps look like burglar from Syndra's description, which she seemed to give it a cringe, giving her the reason why Zed's ninjas are making her head hurt; well even Zed himself.
But this student is different, he is equipped with a huge scythe that looks promising than the actual, completely different from the tools and weapons that Zed provided for his fellow students.
Adding that the scythe has a huge one eye on the base of the blade's hilt.
"And Master Zed wants me as your training guide."
"Really? That's wonderful! I guess I must work hard for me to get noticed.." The masked ninja said with determination.
In between of the corners of the hall, the masked ninja saw his classmate waiting for him, he waved goodbye to him.
"So? Where is your master?" Without any signs, the scythe spoke.
"I can feel his energy around here somewhere so.."
"Can we just kill someone. And let me have your body, Kayn." The scythe seethed his voice, filled with desire to kill.
"Not a chance. Rhaast." Kayn smirked and proceeds to walk.
On those corners of the hall, his senses called him as a metallic laughter emanates the hall, much like a sinister being who is delighted of something.
"Ha! Music to my ears! Who is that?" Rhaast take it way too easy and finds the laughter a pleasant one.
"You've got a worst taste of music Rhaast, this is better.."
Now they heard a male scream on the hall, probably the ninjas who made a split with him earlier.
"So?" Kayn laughed.
"Hmph. Nah, that's too melodramatic! I prefer that one, you know. That evil one." Rhaast pressured further.
"Whatever. Let's see what we can find." Kayn went to the location where he heard the scream.
As soon he reached the point, he saw Zed laughing and talking with the two ninjas.
"Zed? What's he doing."
"Perhaps the laughing one we've heard came from your master. I feel sorry for what you've become Kayn." Rhaast made a vile sarcasm, or probably not.
"How dare you. Zed is perfect!" Kayn defended his pride for his master.
"Whatever." Rhaast rolled his eyes and sighed.
Kayn used his technique and cloaks himself inside the walls, this technique is somewhat intriguing, some students were envied on how on earth Kayn is doing that with shadow arts. Well that could be something useful for Kayn himself as he uses this to stalk and..yes eavesdrop.
"This is too legit Kayn. Eavesdropping as a shadow." Rhaast said, but kind of piqued on what will be happening next.
"Shut up and listen."
Now he listens and watches Zed converse with his fellow students.
"This item is worth a try for someone who is eager to know secrets. I am pleased of this technology that I've borrowed."
"Borrowed? From whom, Master? Can we take a look?" The masked ninja said almost interested to the camera.
"It is the property of my friend's friend, or should I say, her playmate." Zed sighed and shakes the fact, he lends the camera to the ninjas with care. "Handle it with care, my dear student. DO NOT touch this glass."
"This? What is this?" The ninja asked, pointing at the big button on the top right corner of the device.
"Perhaps it triggers something?" Said by the next student beside him.
"Try it then."
A flash of light sparks, the ninjas got alerted on what happened. Almost in horror, Zed quickly retrieved the item.
"Fool! I said TAKE it with care!" Zed scolded his students. He is patting..the camera for safety.
"What happened!? I-I am sorry!" The ninja went apologetic.
"Tch! Fools!" Zed snarled, he immediately pressed the gallery to see what have been caught on the camera.
On the screen, he saw himself, how come he looks so cool at the angle, with his set of red eyes glaring at the camera, and how the light from the hallway brings a good proper lighting for his armor. In fact, it looks fascinating.
"Hm..It seems you are good at this my dear student." Zed made a praise.
"Me?" The ninja asked.
"Nice! You've got noticed! Brother!" His friend said with a nudge.
"Why look at this prestigious shot." Zed humbly presented the camera to emphasize his delight.
The screen shows a good shot of Zed, his students stared in awe as his armor glowed perfectly on the lights.
"Hey.." The ninja said in whisper at his friend, giving him attention.
"Yeah?"
"Is it just me..or I think I have seen something weird.."
"What?"
Zed kept silent and listens to the students' statements.
"Here.. I saw it here.."
"What is it my student? Is there something on my armor?" Zed got alarmed on his image.
"No no Master.. I saw something here." The student pointed at the spot where Zed's shurikens are located in which is placed at his back.
"Okay now what is happening?" Rhaast said to Kayn.
"I don't know. We'll see. Something might've happen."
He squinted his eyes and focuses on the spot, but he just sees his shadow that is produced by the light.
"I saw no mysteries. What is it..?" Zed is getting on his nerves because on how his student is hesitating. He hates hesitations.
"Er..maybe we can take a closer look?" The other ninja recommended.
Zed snatched the camera and let his students watch him, he remembers how Irelia taught him to navigate the camera.
"Here, press this button to navigate photos."
"You can adjust the focus by adjusting it here.."
"And here.. you can zoom in and out to your photo. I am sure you'll get use of this."
"Just..please. Take care of it. PLEASE ."
The zoom in and out feature piqued him, Irelia's voice echoed his mind that reminds him the instructions. And of course, the reminder of TAKING care of it.
He sighed and pressed the button, good thing Syndra is not the one who is navigating else this camera will surely costs a heck of his savings again, which he has to avoid.
Alas, he zoomed it in closer. He wonders what is the student pointing at.
"Here master. Right right."
Zed pressed right but the navigator slides further because Zed pressed it in a long time.
"No master, go back."
Zed pressed left but it ended up going to the edge of the screen.
"Master..just a little righ-"
"Silence! I am doing it!" Zed barked in annoyance.
"Sorry!"
And then Zed pressed the button, he taps the button as what Irelia told him, he navigates where the student pointed at. And then..
shriek
The ninjas saw the spot where the navigator ended on Zed's shuriken, the shadow is deep but in a closer look they saw two small set of eyes with a with a streak of white on below.
"Ghost! GHOST!" The ninja shrieked.
"L-Look.. this one looks like a teeth.." The other ninja pointed.
"So it is likely it is glaring at.." The ninjas stared at their master.
Zed felt cold on his shoulder because of course, they have seen the 'ghost' located at Zed's shuriken just right on his neck.
"DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT IDIOTS!" Zed snarled, his face is sweating a little. He glances at his back to see, and yes, nothing is interesting but only a wall.
"But master.."
"I-I am calling an exorcist.. was it okay?"
"FOOL! IT'S just a photo! And how dare you, my ORDER is not haunted!" Zed barked, protecting his beloved temple's reputation.
Zed huffed and immediately took a picture of his students. He captures how they look stupid as they panicked.
"I didn't TAUGHT anyone to look like a PEASANT!" Zed harshly scolded his ninjas. "Where is the form I used to teach you?!"
The ninjas caught off guard and stood like the way Zed wants them, of course to look presentable and in stanced.
"Okay. Look at this, dearest students. There is NO one here." He presents his photo.
"But what do you mean about that..ghost."
"THERE is no GHOST!"
"But.."
"You are afraid of ghosts? PATHETIC! I will allow you to get afraid if the Harrowing comes."
Zed sighed, his head hurts a little that could bring a load of stress for him. Since the camera fascinated him, he could try making shots with his ninjas, and so..to locate this ' ghost ' and prove that his order is not haunted.
He summoned his clone and let it holds the camera, he positions himself in between of his ninjas to make him stood out. Commanding the clone was easy, and then after seconds, he took the camera back and presented it on his ninjas. As he zoomed every corner, no such thing like ghost existed.
"See? No mysterious beings have been caught."
"Well.. I guess that is just a shadow.."
"Fine. Let me take again a picture." Zed was about to call his clone but his student stopped him.
"What?"
"Have you heard about ' Selfies ', Master?" The ninja said.
"It sounds promising. Tell me."
"You take a picture like this.." The ninja took the camera. "And point it at you."
"You are an idiot that your actions were DANGEROUS for the device!" Zed snarled, he is panicking how the ninja holds it like that.
"Relax, Master..Say cheese!" The other ninja pushed Zed on the view of the camera and posed.
- click -
After the flash, Zed quickly snatched the camera back and looks at the photo. With his delight, he looks better and the shot is good.
"See Master? You can make group pictures and pictures by yourself with that."
"Where did you learn this technique, dearest student?" Zed is in awe and eager to know, fact is his interest is now focused on the ninja.
"I saw some people outside doing that, so since you have a camera with you, It must be a technique of using the device." The ninja explained.
"Hmm.. This Selfie technique .. I must study this.." Zed wondered. "My dearest students! You'll be joining me to study this technique with me. Let's proceed to the training room." Zed walks briskly ahead but..
"Wait, Master! There is no such thing of Training Rooms for that!"
"What."
"I say, what I've heard, no, what I've discovered from those people outside, good locations are likely in a good view of the background." The ninja explained.
"The training room is filled with power, so it is good for the Selfie Technique." Zed pursued.
"How about the garden, Master? It has a good view!"
Zed hummed with the idea, those ideas came from his students delighted him, how come he teaches his students for years to become a better ninja, has a certain amount of good knowledge in technology, of course, his ninjas are viable with this kind, well except for Syndra who is oblivious and pathetic when it comes of technology. Of course the captain is experienced, but there is no way he could pester her again.
Such amusement, he is happy to have students with knowledge!
"Fine deal, after we are finished with the Training room, my dear students." And then the ninjas were happy to oblige, yet behind Zed eyes were excitement that he has to experience since this Selfie Technique he calls is worth of giving a try.
Behind the walls, Kayn returns back on the ground, he kind of surprised on what happened.
"HA! We are ghosts now?" Rhaast said in a pleasing tone. "I do love seeing fear, it's funny!"
"IDIOT! Now the ninjas think that this temple is haunted!" Kayn corrected the Darkin.
"Who's fault it was?"
"Hmph. You are included. I control you, and you'll end up the same as me." Kayn rolled his eyes and sighed. "But they're going to the training room. And Zed is eager to know that skill."
"That Selfie Technique? It looks interesting.. But you need those devices just like your Master has." Rhaast reminded him.
"Why yes. Maybe we could..well, Zed said he borrowed it on the captain." Kayn as thoughts of borrowing the said item from the Captain of the Guard herself.
"That girl? You are going to borrow that device?"
"What do you think?"
"It's fine for me, since WE can alert folks there, HA!" Rhaast got excited, thinking that this will trigger fear.
"Fool. That could be troublesome." Kayn sighed. "I guess..why don't we try joining Zed."
"It's up to you kid. For so long I want to see myself! I may look a weapon. But I am Rhaast that is-"
"Whatever. Let's go."
And then, Kayn went back slithering inside the spaces of the walls to pass throughout the rooms. Not denying the fact his actions can trigger the fact they are ghosts.