A young woman was digging into a bowl of Ionian porridge. Her white hair fell in tangles down her back, and her crimson eyes stared into her bowl with a tiredness only a wanderer new. Her thoughts were treading all the paths she had once taken.
"IMAGINATIO!"
Her mind retuned to reality with a sudden jolt. Her hand snapped to her broken sword on the bench beside her as her eyes scanned the area. It wasn't hard to notice growing spread of magic over the ceiling.
She watched as the stars suddenly began to glow different shades of blue and purple, while others began to slowly move, their lights beginning to spin. A small smile touched the corners of Riven's mouth as the stars (or their illusion) began an intricate dance, twirling, touching, and synchronizing in a dazzling display.
Her ears picked up the sound of a night breeze running through the room. She was tempted to draw her grey light cloak close around her, but realized that it was only a sound. The soft sighs softly strung together into a melody that was soft, light, and matched the dance in the sky in tempo and melody.
The woman thought to herself, It's not Sona, but it's nice. Peaceful…
Curiosity overcoming her, she spun to look for a source to the spell. She found it in a young purple yordle skipping along in the food line. A small butterfly followed her, as well as Summoner Marcus, the spell-wiz. The young girl was the only one in the room (besides Riven) that wasn't staring up at the ceiling. Summoner Marcus was running into other spectators and mumbling apologies, but he kept his wide eyes on the ceiling.
The woman smirked to herself, before going back to her food. The strange magic rang a bell in her mind, and she remembered the new fountain that she had passed on her return.
Her thoughts returned to her most recent paths in the Sablestone Mountains, but were abruptly interrupted by the clack of a tray down right in front of her.
"You should smile more often. It's very healthy for you."
She looked up to see the young purple yordle, accompanied by the still-dumb-struck Marcus, taking a seat across from her.
"Oh, right. I guess I do need a bit of practice in that department," said Riven. "I'm just tired." She gave a fatigued smile to sell the white lie.
The yordle frowned in return. "But you should never be too tired to smile. Your smile comes from your heart. That's what Pix told me."
Riven then noticed the small winged creature sitting on the girl's cap. It actually wasn't a butterfly, or else it was a very weird one. The girl dipped a cracker in her soup then passed it up to the small creature, who took it and munched on it quietly.
"Cool," she nonchalantly replied. "By the way, name's Riven."
The girl tipped her head quizzically, sending the small creature tumbling off of it. "Just Riven?"
"Riven… the Wanderer."
The girl nodded contentedly, then jumped up on the table as she announced. "I am Lulu, the Fae Sorceress!"
Riven couldn't contain a laugh. She looked just like Veigar for a second there with her overdone theatrics.
Lulu landed in her chair with a bump, and grabbed her fork to dig in to the food, the small butterfly-thing returning to her hat.
Riven noticed that even Lulu's food had been altered. She realized that the miniature jungle on one side of her plate was her spinach leaves, while the bowl of soup looked like a shimmering ocean, complete with sail ships and small clouds floating above the "water".
She dug into her bowl, trying to ignore the iridescent plate across from her in order to keep her appetite.
"So Lulu… what was that spell?"
Riven looked up in partly-contained surprise at Marcus, the questioner. She thought Marcus knew every spell in history. By the face he was wearing, it seemed he himself was shocked.
"Imaginatio," Lulu stated matter-of-factly. "Every fae knows it!"
Marcus blinked. "Fae?"
"Yeah, like Pix."
In answer, the small creature jumped from Lulu's hat and landed in a backflip onto the edge of Lulu's bowl. It bowed low, only to lose balance and fall in the gravy.
Lulu laughed aloud at her companion, then reached into the sea-soup with her spoon. The small fae came out clinging to the spoon, covered in the not-so-watery soup. Taking her napkin, she dried its wings, then its face.
As the aquamarine goop came clear, Riven noticed two purple eyes on the creature, as well as two tiny hands and feet. Unable to contain her curiosity, she held out her unoccupied hand underneath the spoon. The fae dropped the short distance, landing with both legs sprawled out, relaxing on the callused hands. It was as light as a toothpick.
Riven brought it close, eyes picking up the traces on the wings. She had seen many creatures, but none so small and yet so self-aware. She traced a wing with a finger.
Marcus once again broke the silence.
"So where are the 'Fae' from?"
"From the Fae Glade, of course!"
Riven peeked up from her inspection to catch Marcus's blue eyes glaze over, before his hand quickly disappeared into his cloak and returning out a notepad and pen.
Riven went back to studying the fae, but was once again interrupted by a loud shout.
"Hey Lulu!"
An inward groan went up from Riven. She could handle young children, shouting, and fire, but not all three together.
Annie came skipping across the room, a giant satisfied smile on her face. Behind her shuffled the small mummy, Amumu, his head tilted back, staring up in wonder at the dancing stars. They were both soaking wet.
As 'reluctant' as usual, Annie jumped up onto the bench beside Riven. She quickly dropped her food beside Riven's, ready to dig in, but then noticed the Fae. Her eyes lit up.
"Hey Pix!"
Riven fully expected the small creature to shy away, but instead it flew out of her hand into and awkward embrace of Annie's nose.
Marcus looked up from his notes and noticed the state of their clothes.
"Why are you two dripping wet?" he asked, eyes glaring at them, yet sparkling with hidden amusement. His hand put the notepad back away, now covered in scribbles.
"We-we were just playing in the new pool," mumbled Amumu.
"And drinking it!" Annie exclaimed. "Although Amumu was too scared to go down the slide." She suddenly extended an arm to Riven. "Wanna taste?"
"No, thank you, Annie," She could smell chocolate and plums wafting from the proffered arm, but she wasn't about to lick it. "And… what new pool?"
"The-the fountain's pool o-o-on the front s-steps. Did we do wron-"
"The one Lulu made," Annie chimed in once more. "Are you suuure you don't wanna try it? It's really good!"
Riven sighed. "No, Annie. In fact I think it's time for me to find Ez." She caught Marcus's quizzical gaze, and said, "He wanted me to give him that artifact I found two weeks ago in the Sablestone Mountains."
Marcus's eyes widened in excitement, but he seemed to catch himself. He glanced at Lulu, then sighed softly, before looking back at Riven. "I want to go and see it for myself later. But it's time we all got some rest. Especially you, Lulu. You've got training to do, and I want you to be ready. It's time to find your place here in the Institute."
"Place?" asked Lulu.
"Yeah, I'm a top laner, usually," said Riven, standing up with her empty bowl.
"And I'm a mid laner!" exclaimed Annie.
"I jungle," mumbled Amumu.
"Yes, every champion has a place here," said Marcus, grabbing Lulu's empty bowl and tray and stacking them on his. "You might change from time to time. And sometimes your summoner might… try new things."
Riven rolled her eyes, some bad memories arising. Support Riven… ugh.
"But it's a team effort. And we must find where you fit in the team."
Marcus carried the four stacked trays in one hand and Lulu's hand in the other. He felt like a train conductor, with Annie holding Lulu's other hand, and Amumu holding Annie's. He placed the trays at the magical belt which carried the trays to some cleaning staff behind. He wondered if Mellony was working back there today… He quickly shoved the thought from his mind and turned to leave.
But the corner of his eye caught two furry ears and a familiar grey cardigan. He turned to his first car. "Wait here Lulu, I'll be right back."
Jogging over, he tapped the cardigan's shoulder.
"Yes?" came the solemn reply. Turning around, the champion Nasus looked up at Marcus.
For a second Marcus reveled in the fact that Nasus was actually looking up at him, but dismissed it.
"I need some help. Will you be in your library tonight?"
Nasus head dipped fractionally.
"And would you be willing to aid me in a search for a subject concerning an 'Imaginatio' spell?"
One of Nasus's eyebrows raised a fraction. "Curious. I have not heard that name in centuries. Hmmm… I may know where to find what you require."
Marcus beamed. "Thank you."
He spun back to his sleepy-eyed train. He would soon look like them. If he knew himself at all, he had a long night of reading ahead.
Yes, I know, a shorter chapter, and after such a long time... but the next chapter is close behind. And I felt splitting them was best.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT.
Jebinnam out.