Chapter 2.
Yay new chapter! Again, any reviews would be appreciated greatly, both positive and negative. Plus, if you want some champion to make a cameo in the story, it could be arranged… hehe…..
Yasuo leapt from the starboard, looking out towards the exit of the swamp. He could see the black mist hovering in the distance, swallowing up the light in the distance. Looking to the light had become a new hobby of his. Maybe to atone for losing track of the light all those years ago…
Beside him, Elise barely stirred. Covered in her blanket of webs, she seemed so peaceful, so beautiful. Looking so innocent, yet her teeth were stained with the bloods of innocence. Yasuo didn't know what to think. On one hand, he knew she was a demon of the ancient order, one sent to terrorize man. She was the formation of nightmares and death. However, he still remembered how she had overcome him in battle. About to slaughter him, it was if a small ounce of humanity triggered within her, compassion and something else. He could feel the pure turmoil seeping out from her skin, her morals fighting her body. And she had won.
As the first rays of light peeked out from the stern of the ship, Elise began to wake. Her cocoon slowly unraveled, unveiling the most flawless woman he had ever seen. Her skin, slightly tainted with otherworldly purple, was perfectly smooth. She wore a skin-tight black dress that did nothing to hide the more intimate parts of her body. And then she yawned and smiled, a dopey smile on her face. This was so much different than the cruel beast he had seen yesterday, leaping around the battlefield devouring souls. Instead, he saw a happy teenage girl with her whole life taken away from her. Instead of late-nights filled with first kisses and giggles, texting and sleepovers, she spent her days luring and hunting down blood. It made him sick.
Elise's face contorted back into that of the assassin. "Hello."
Yasuo looked into her face, his own a mirror of passivity. "Good morning. It's about time you woke."
She looked forward, and suddenly the boat tipped. The ghastly sailors struggled to regain control of the ship, making it lurch dramatically. Yasuo looked over the side of the ship and immediately flinched back.
There, on the side of the ship, was a woman. She was dressed in dark green drab, and in her hands she held twin kamas, flurrying in a wave of light as she fought off wave after wave of spectral demons. Akali, the Shadow Dancer, one of the Trio of Unity, and overall one of Valoran's most feared people. Yasuo instinctively backed off. If Akali could be summoned here, it must be extremely important…
And then she jumped and landed right next to Yasuo, her kama pressing against his throat. "Stand still."
He felt his throat muscles tighten as her kama pressed against his windpipe. The sharp weapons, while extremely short in range, were amongst the sharpest in the world. One false move, and death would finally catch him.
Launching into the familiar motions, he quickly manipulated the winds to provide an extra inch between him and the weapon. Dashing with ridiculous speed behind Akali, he ducked and dodged a swirl of energy while drawing his own katana. They stared at each other for a second before Akali lunged. Her kamas barely nicked Yasuo's arms as he dashed past, but instantly he felt a huge wave of pain flood down his arm. Cursed poisons. Swearing, he leapt into the air and prepared to finish with a huge blast of wind. Except Akali was faster.
She twirled her kamas, and suddenly she vanished. Into thin air. And then a paralytic dart embedded itself into Yasuo's neck. He fell down into a heap, body still twitching, as Akali appeared right above him.
She grinned, spitting blood out from between her teeth. "Justice has finally caught you, betrayer. Not even your legendary speed could save you." And she sliced down.
A wave of nausea passed over Yasuo as he groggily shook his head. Eyes opening, he looked into Elise's concerning eyes.
She smiled, and instantly his pains went away. "You're awake."
He nodded. "What happened to the Shadow? She definitely got me."
Grimacing, Elise raised her hand and Yasuo gasped. Two of her digits were missing. "I flung some webbing at her just in time. She lunged at me and managed to get two of my digits before my toxins overwhelmed her, but she still managed to get away." She paused momentarily. "How did you ever make such a powerful enemy?"
He opened his mouth to answer, but then hesitated. "I- I did something bad in the past, and these are atonement for my sins."
Elise's eyes twinkled. "Like what?"
He closed his eyes, and the moment came back to him.
He stood in the room, facing towards the doorway. Outside, sounds of men's cries and grunts flooded in, the music of battle. Behind him, the elder sat in a chair, composing another book of poetry. Yasuo groaned. His young body ached for release, for war. And then he heard it. His twin's cry, as he was hit by a knife.
Yasuo instinctively leapt out of the room before he could think. He flew like a bird of war, smashing straight through a pile of enemies and cutting them down. He grabbed his brother and flung him into a pile of bushes nearby, hurt but alive. He laughed giddily as he walked back into the room, wiping blood off of his blade. Froze.
In front of him was a tall, elegant woman, covered in a pure white dress. Her hand held a staff on which a small dove floated. She was alone, inside a room with the elder. She raised her staff and pointed it at the elder.
"Stop!" Yasuo tried to yell, but his voice came out a heartbeat too late. A tornado burst out of her staff, enveloping the elder and ripping him to shreds. She then turned around, sizing up Yasuo.
Trying to ignore the dishonor wrought upon his village, he dashed forward, hoping to avenge against this woman. His katana struck out, catching the woman by surprise as he slashed at her neck.
He missed.
The woman quickly spun into a tightly woven cocoon of air and dashed outside of the room, flying off into the distance, leaving behind only a wake of destruction.
Afterwards, the trial was all foggy in his mind. The other elders proclaiming him a traitor, sentencing him to execution. His own twin brother, ignoring him as he walked past, not even a teardrop of emotion spilling from his eyes. The execution day, when he forfeit his honor and slaughtered the executioner, fleeing, determined to clear his name. And then, the chase….
"Yasuo. Wake up." Elise shook his arms, and he slowly came out of his daze. "Your eyes were milky white. It's been several hours."
He merely nodded, the emotions flooding in. What he had experienced was too painful to talk about, to mention to anyone. But he vowed- If he ever had a chance, that woman would die. Slowly and painfully.
Finally, by late afternoon they exited the swamp. Outside, the sun had begun to set as it's eerie lighting sent shadows flying through the trees.
"Elise, about what happened earlier, thank you." Yasuo finally broke the silence. "I can't tell you why she's after me, but I just want you to know that it means a lot to me."
Elise smiled sadly, but instantly replaced it with a grim line. "You owe me one thing at least. Why was she chasing you?"
Yasuo paused momentarily, seeing before him the cruel spider woman who had eaten his comrades and threatened him, but he shook himself out of it. She deserves to know, if you're travelling with her. He braced himself. "Akali, she's not just a random assassin hired by someone. She's my sister."
Akali returned to the Institute, dripping wet and clutching her side. The toxins had taken their toll on her, slowing down her ridiculous movement. As she entered the door, she was greeted by the Master. He looked at her, not saying a word.
"Master, he's alive. And he's combined forces with the Arachnid."
The man nodded, his years of wisdom and study crumbling before his eyes. The Ancients had been awaken, all because of some stupid coincidence that let Elise meet Yasuo.
Akali looked at him, fearful. "Is… is it time?"
The man grimaced, but he knew the choice. "Yes." His voice was hushed, as he spoke the words that would change history. "Send out the Messenger. We have to stop this before it's too late."