Chapter 2: Sunrise
They end up winning the battle. Nasus stands quietly by himself as the shards of the enemy Nexus rain down on his team, leaning on his staff and indulging in a moment of exhaustion. He'd died several times during the match, and although his sacrifices had kept the more fragile members of his team alive, it was…disconcerting, at least, to die and live again.
He feels sudden warmth and looks up to see Soraka smiling gently at him, her thin fingers wreathed in light. She is one of the champions whose name he has bothered to learn. Her form…comforts him, in a way. She is much too small, of course, and her face is far too human, but her furred legs and shining horn reminds him of the ram-headed of his kin.
"Thank you, Starchild," he rumbles, exhaling slowly as the heat sinks through his body, wiping away pain and weariness.
"You volunteered for the match against Noxus," she reminds him, her hooves clicking on the stones as she bends to pick up a piece of the enemy Nexus, "It's the least I can do, Curator of the Sands."
"The summoner needed little encouragement," he says, looking over her shoulders at the Noxian team. They were almost universally wearing snarls, except for the fox woman, who stares back at him.
"Ionia needed the victory," she says softly, glancing at him.
He growls softly and turns away from her, feeling his body ripple between flesh and stone as he stares off over the forest. He has devoured every scrap of knowledge thrust his way since he was summoned to this world, and he knows of Ionia's plight. If it moved him, ever so briefly, to pity…what of it? Was there an obligation, now?
He snarls, his hands tightening around his staff, and fills his mind with memories of the dusty shadows of his library. He can almost hear the timid footsteps of the humans, drifting through the shelves in wonder, the louder, but still respectful tread of his own kind.
Someone touches him and he shudders back to the present.
"What is it now?" he growls. He is forced to peer around to find the source of his interruption, a tiny bundle at his feet. Oh, spirits. Not one of the small creatures. Registana help him.
"We're to go to the summoning platform," it squeaks, and he winces.
"Yes, yes," he grumbles, squaring his shoulders and following the little speck, wincing whenever it bumped into him and shocked him. He falls in beside the Ionian bladesman and watches the small creature zip into place between him and Soraka. To his right, the pale human—no, she is…Luxanna—stands quietly, her lips trembling.
He realizes that she is speaking, hissing words under her breath.
"Victory for our allies, defeat for our enemies, and justice for all," she murmurs, over and over.
He is entirely unsure what to do. Was this normal behavior for a human? He shifts uneasily. She looks…unwell.
"Victory for our allies, defeat for our enemies, and justice for all."
The voice of the League announcer booms out suddenly and he uses all his will to keep himself from flinching. He is Nasus! Stoic. Untouchable.
"Victory for our allies, defeat for our enemies, and justice for all."
"Ionia is victorious! The unconditional release of the prisoners taken during the Noxian invasion has been won! The Noxian High Council is at this moment finalizing the preparations for their release! Congratulations, champions!" the announcer roars, and Soraka makes a soft, choked sound. He glances at her and frowns at the water streaming down her cheeks. Wasteful. Foolish. He was wrong. She would not last long in the desert.
"Victory for our allies, defeat for our enemies, and justice for all."
As long as he is being honest with himself…he feels surprisingly good about this victory. It had been too long since he had fought for a good cause. The last time…
"Victory for our allies, defeat for our enemies, and justice for all."
He shakes his head violently and returns his attention to Luxanna. He cannot tell if she is supposed to be this pale or not. As subtly as he can, he tries to compare her skin to the other females. This is a remarkably futile effort. After all, Soraka's skin is blue.
"Victory for our allies, defeat for our enemies, and justice for all."
"Champions, you may now exit the Fields of Justice!"
Blue light surrounds them, and he bares his teeth as he feels the summoning spells yank at him. Luxanna is still shaking. Still…muttering those words, letting them fall from her mouth like coals, already accepted pain.
"Victory for our allies, defeat for our enemies, and justice for all."
He cannot bear it. He has never allowed his charges to suffer needlessly. She needs aid, and he will help her. He does not understand what is causing her to act in this manner. Perhaps she is sick, lost in a fever brought on by the battle. It is of no matter. He is a seeker of knowledge, a keeper of secrets. Her pain is a puzzle and he is…flesh…flesh turned from stone by Ionia's agony, by the Starchild's desperate gratitude.
"Victory for our allies, defeat for our enemies, and justice for all."
Such a strange world, he thinks. Such a strange people.
"Victory for our allies, defeat for our enemies, and justice for all."
He sets his hand firmly on her shoulder, and lets the light whisk him out of existence.