Shuriman nights are beautiful, Kai'sa mused. And indeed they were. Pure, gleaming stars embedded the vast expanse of the night sky. The moon, seemingly just beyond the reach of her fingertips, sat a little above a cluster of three stars, emanating a faint glow. Swathes of sand stretched on as far as the eye could see.
Kai'sa inhaled slowly, letting the scent of the desert fill her. Not a single creature stirred in the desert wasteland that Kai'sa had once called home. The silence enveloped her like a mother's warm embrace, soothing her. She felt her eyelids fluttering to stay awake.
It had been two years since Kai'sa had found her way back. Two long, agonizing years of desperately trying to save those beyond salvation, enduring taunts and insults from the ignorant villagers, who knew nothing of her struggles. But in this empty, Shuriman night, even Kai'sa could almost lose herself and forget.
Her mother used to say that the desert gave whatever it possessed to its inhabitants. Tonight, the desert offered comfort, solitude, and peace. For a moment, Kai'sa could almost, just almost, cast away her past. For a moment, just a moment, Kai'sa could believe that she was merely a merchant travelling across a sea of sand, her family awaiting her return.
The only sound for many kilometers was that of her breathing as Kai'sa sat motionless, gazing at the stars and feeling the fine grains of sand run through her fingers. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to feel comfortable. Even at peace. The soft, warm breeze caressed her gently, kissing her lips.
Even As'ak was quieter than normal, retreating deep inside his own mind.
All at once, weariness washed across her limbs, and Kai'sa felt weeks' worth of fatigue overtake her. How nice would it be to lay here… The sweet, desert air was far too tempting, her limbs far too worn, and Kai'sa felt her eyes begin to drift shut.
Without any warning, the wings melded onto her back flared sharply, and the sensation of being stabbed by thousands of needles wrenched Kai'sa from her daze. The peaceful silence shattered.
Get up! As'ak hissed, but Kai'sa was already moving, blindly throwing herself out of the way. To her left, a ball of energy exploded, spraying waves of sand through the air. Grains of sharp pebbles bounced off the chitinous, purplish armor that was now part of her own body. Violet blossomed around her vision as her visor melded over her face, enhancing her senses.
Now fully awake, Kai'sa lept nimbly away from the second ball of energy that erupted below her feet, landing a few meters back. Adrenaline rushed through her body, her heart racing as she tried to discern the direction of the attack. Tensing her body, she readied herself. But all remained still.
Instead, a voice that sounded almost strangled, yet powerful, reverberated across the desert, seemingly echoing from every direction. "You are not the Prophet." Kai'sa whipped around, attempting to locate the source without success.
"You are not the Prophet," it repeated again, with a hint of disappointment in its voice. She narrowed her eyes, and she felt As'ak utter a low, menacing growl. She herself had never heard of this "Prophet" before, but Kai'sa knew there was power in its name.
Who is he talking about? Kaisa asked.
He is… never mind, muttered As'ak, his voice laced with fear. It's not important right now.
In a less perilous situation, Kai'sa would have snorted and rolled her eyes, but she had yet to determine the attacker's intentions. Still, there was little to be afraid of, as the attacks up to this point had been clumsy and slow, and it was a simple matter of dodging. Though still wary of any threats, Kai'sa stood up a little straighter.
"I am not the Prophet," she stated, keeping her voice neutral. With an inward smile, she realized that the voice projecting from her visor probably sounded just as distorted as the attacker's. As'ak stayed quiet during the exchange, but Kai'sa could feel the dread radiating from him. She herself felt a sort of nervous anticipation of what was to come.
The low, guttural voice sounded out once more. "Are you human?" The seemingly innocent question pierced Kai'sa like an arrow made of pure ice.
Am I human? It was a question she had always avoided. One that she had kept suppressed deep inside the recesses of her mind, along with the memories of her family and village. Suppressed along with Anna's laugh that sounded like the tinkling of silver bells, along with Kaisa. She remembered the taunts and shouts of the villagers who believed that she was a monster. She had always assumed that it was they who were ignorant, unaware, yet…
For a long moment, her lips refused to open to answer the question. Every fiber of her body screamed Yes! but deep inside her mind, Kai'sa knew that the scaly, flexible chitin that curled around her was part of her as much as her smooth, tanned skin was. Knew that the leathery wings that protruded from her back were part of her as much as her arms were. Knew that her body belonged no more to the one named Kai'sa than to the void creature named As'ak.
And so Kai'sa hesitated. Was she human?
"I -I don't know." Her feeble voice came out barely audible, almost a whisper. For two years, Kai'sa had fought in the darkest recesses of Runeterra against the most horrifying and vicious monsters anywhere. She had escaped hordes of creatures, each with the strength of ten men. She had scaled bottomless cliffs, where one false step would mean certain death. But she had never felt as vulnerable as she did now.
A blinding, purple flash snapped Kai'sa from her thoughts. From seemingly nowhere, a figure suddenly appeared only a few meters ahead of her, a glowing sword in its hand. As the light died down, she got a clearer view of the figure in front of her.
His form was that of a man, but that was where his humanoid features stopped. A gray mask covered his entire head, and a pair of yellow eyes glowed menacingly from beneath. Writhing tentacles protruded from where his mouth might have been, while dark plates of heavy armor covered his legs and upper body. His bare stomach revealed an ugly, purple skin that seemed to glow in the darkness of night. He almost seemed to glide, his feet hardly touching the ground.
Immediately, Kai'sa felt a wave of panic sweep over her. This man was clearly a void creature, corrupted and obviously powerful. How could she not have noticed earlier? Without any hesitation, she uttered an inhuman cry and flew at him, firing powerful prey-seeking missiles in his direction. In the blink of an eye, the man vanished and reappeared to her left, sending a powerful energy pulse that wiped out her attack.
He might have said something, but Kai'sa hardly paid attention, renewing her attack with another wave of missiles and launching energy beams from the gauntlets on her wrist. She was furious. This monster had the audacity to force her into such a vulnerable state with only a question? Kai'sa snarled. Ridiculous. The creature dodged Kai'sa's attack once more, but far less elegantly. It was clear that he was running out of energy, and one more push would finish the job.
She was about to unleash the final, lethal wave of rockets when she felt the sensation of being restrained, almost like a hand grabbing her arm and twisting it behind her back. As'ak, she growled. What do you think you're doing? Release me and let me kill this scum!
What do you think you're doing? As'ak snapped. Think! Look at him!
Kai'sa resisted, trying to rip herself from As'ak's hold, but it proved too strong. Reluctantly, she let the energy in her wings fizzle out and grudgingly turned her gaze onto the monster. Except that… he didn't seem to be a monster after all. Signs that Kai'sa had missed at first glance now seemed obvious: the lack of hunger and aggressiveness, the sword which he carried that was clearly not void-crafted.
Whatever this man was, he clearly was not of the Void. Her shallow breathing returned to a normal pace, and she felt violet haze covering her vision slowly dissipate. Kai'sa's cheeks burned red as she realized her mistake.
She was suspicious of the man, of course, but couldn't help but feel a little curious. Who was this… creature who spoke and acted like a human, yet looked like a void creature? All at once, Kai'sa felt a burning desire to see that question answered, far more than could be explained by curiosity. Was it because this man reminded Kai'sa… of herself?
"Who are you?" she demanded in a cold voice, hoping that it betrayed none of her curiosity.
Was it just her imagination or did the man smile under his gruesome mask? "That is a question I have not been asked in a long time," he mused. "I have been called many names in the past, some of which have been lost to time itself. But I believe I am known as Kassadin now."
Kai'sa silently rolled his name over her tongue. Kassadin. It seemed familiar yet foreign at the same time, like an old language that she had once known. After a moment of silence, she spoke. "My name is Kai'sa."
For a second, Kassadin looked taken aback, and then a coughing sound began to emerge from his mask, growing louder over time. It took Kai'sa a second to realize that Kassadin was laughing. "I should have known!" he barked, still chuckling. He sheathed his sword and his demeanor shifted. "I have heard the rumors, Daughter of the Void."
Kai'sa stiffened. "Is that what they are calling me now?" The name shouldn't have surprised her. What had she expected? Still, it felt like a punch in the gut, reminding her of just how much of a monster she really was.
Kassadin's voice suddenly turned grave. "Daughter of the Void. What is your goal?"
"I will destroy the Void." Her reply was swift, with no hesitation at all.
Kassadin did not speak for a long time. When he finally did, his voice was quiet, almost fearful. "There are rumors, rumors of the Void becoming hungry in the North. People have described feeling the insatiable hunger of an unknown force, and experienced travellers have vanished without a trace. They say it is linked to the Watchers."
Kai'sa shivered. She opened her mouth to speak, but Kassadin cut her off, sounding normal again, or as normal as he could sound. "I must make haste, but it was pleasant finally meeting you, Daughter of the Void." He turned to leave, before seeming to remember something. "Ah, and one last thing. Beware of the one who bends ice to her will." And with that final warning, a second flash of light enveloped the desert, blinding Kai'sa. Once her vision returned, Kassadin was gone. No signs remained to indicate that he had ever been there in the first place.
For the rest of the night, Kai'sa didn't sleep. Thoughts of the mysterious figure who called himself Kassadin swirled around her mind. Who was he? Where did he come from? How could he be human yet so Void-like… like herself? It was that last question that haunted her. Kai'sa had always thought of herself to be the only one who bore the burden of being called a monster. Never had she thought that there might have been another so corrupted and twisted as herself.
As the first light began to filter through the horizon, Kai'sa's thoughts returned to the man's final words. Beware of the one who bends ice to her will.
You've been unusually quiet, observed As'ak. Are you going to follow his words and head North?
Kai'sa frowned and remained silent, concentrating on the rythmic sound of sand crunching under her boots. For some reason, she felt a strong urge against the idea, pressing her to stay. I don't know, she said at last. Of course going North would be the most logical thing to do. Kassadin must have thought the rumors to have merit if he had brought them up in the first place. And the Watchers, said to be the rulers of the Void- if she could kill them… And yet… for some reason, she did not want to go.
There's nothing left here for you. As'ak's voice broke into her thoughts. This is no longer your home. As'ak broached on a topic that he had been deliberately avoiding for all this time. That much, Kai'sa could tell. However, those were also the last words that Kai'sa wanted to hear, and she felt oddly irritated.
I don't know what you're saying. Kai'sa chose to keep her eyes fixed on a spot on the horizon, not bothering to acknowledge his words.
You know what I'm saying, As'ak said, his voice infuriatingly smug. You just don't want to admit it.
Shut up, Kai'sa hissed, her anger rising. What did As'ak know about her? Her footprints grew deeper as she stabbed every step into the sand.
I'm just saying, As'ak said, a little more cautiously. I know you want to save people from the Void, but really, even if you save hundreds, what good will that do? You know as much as I do that the Void still grows every day. Your efforts are merely a bandage over a tumor.
Kai'sa felt her hands trembling uncontrollably, violet blooming across her vision. I don't want to hear it! Shut up! She grasped her head and clutched tightly at it with her fingernails, as if she could somehow silence the Void creature inside of her. Beads of blood formed on her scalp, but the pain could hardly lessen the impact of As'ak's voice.
Listen Kai'sa! As'ak commanded, his voice unusually stern. Your village is gone. Your family is dead. I know you want to hold onto the ghosts of your past, but-
Kai'sa snapped.
"SHUT UP!" she roared furiously, feeling her wings spark to life. "Of course you don't care! You're a Void monster! You're the one who doesn't care about anyone else in the world. Of course you don't care about leaving my family behind! You don't even care about them! You don't know what it's like to lose them. You've never felt the pain of losing someone close to you. So SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
Her voice reverberated across the empty desert until it faded away into the distance. Silence fell between the two. Kai'sa's breathing was ragged, and she stood still, trembling with fury. For the rest of the day, neither side spoke. Kai'sa couldn't tell what As'ak was thinking. He had completely shut himself out of her mind. She was angry. Angry that As'ak would dare talk about her like that. About her family and home like that.
But as night fell once more, Kai'sa felt her anger fade. As'ak was right, of course. Her family and village were gone. Meanwhile, the Void continued to grow. If she followed her original path and forgot about Kassadin's words, nothing would ever change. The Void would devour more souls. It would expand without restraint, eventually consuming the entirety of Shurima, and ultimately Runeterra. Yet even as she came to this conclusion, she still felt a reluctance tugging at her.
They stopped at an oasis for the night. Kai'sa was no longer angry at As'ak. How could she be angry at someone who had protected her for two long years and been at her side whenever she needed him? Even today, he had only been acting in her best interest. It was she who had acted irrationally, throwing a tantrum like a spoiled child.
As'ak? Kai'sa ventured.
She felt him stirring in the back of her mind. Yes? came the response. His voice betrayed no emotion.
Kai'sa took a deep breath. Sorry. For earlier.
A long pause ensued. No, you were perfectly justified in your anger, As'ak said. Kai'sa was taken aback. He was not usually so quick to let go of his pride. I had no right to say those things about you or your family. So, I am the one who should be apologizing.
Kai'sa blinked, then gave a small smile. I suppose we both are at fault here.
She heard As'ak's low chuckle. I suppose we are.
For a while, neither said anything. The first rays of sunrise had found their way past the horizon. The silence was only interrupted by the rhythmic crunching of sand beneath Kai'sa's feet.
Finally, she broke the silence. I've always wondered what 'snow' looks like.
As'ak hummed contentedly. I imagine it's just a cold, inferior version of sand.
As'ak was right. She had no family, no friends, no home. Not anymore. She was an empty shell of a human- if she was human at all anymore. She had but one sole purpose, but that purpose was a raging fire burning inside of her, a fire that would never cease to burn as long as she had blood to give and tears to shed. To destroy the Void.
She would follow Kassadin's words. She would head north. If it meant ending the corruption, she would traverse the four corners of Runeterra and beyond without hesitation. Those Watchers better watch out.
Though she couldn't see him, she knew As'ak was smirking. If I were them, I'd be shaking in fear.
It would be the first time Kai'sa ever left Shurima, her beloved homeland. No, not quite. After all, it wasn't her home anymore. But she wasn't afraid. Quite on the contrary, she was renewed with a sense of hope that she hadn't felt in a long time.
North.
Kai'sa shivered with anticipation.
I wrote this chapter on a whim many years ago when League lore was quite underdeveloped, especially when it came to Kai'sa. I know that it's changed quite a bit since then, but I don't really care to be honest. I dug this up today and thought that it was a bit of decent writing, and decided to upload it and see what happens. I haven't written fanfiction for years now, but maybe I'll continue this if I feel like it.