Chapter 2: Accelerate

The Day after 'Fall of the Barrier'

Roc woke up to the smell of the sea shore. As he opened his eyes, he saw a shore that he had never seen before. His memories from last night was very hazy. He was in a bar, and he was speaking with woman. Now he's in the middle of nowhere. Roc looks over the area, and he spots someone he didn't expect to see, at least by himself. He jumps to his feet, "Where am I?! Why am I here?! Why are you here?! Why are you by yourself?!" Roc exclaims. Judge folds his map in two and stands to face Roc, "To at least answer your last question, you're with me as well, so i'm not by myself" Roc still unsure of what is happening holds onto his sword attached to his hip. Judge stands before in him in very well refined armor. He wears his hood up covering his short, brown hair. The hood reaches down to his hips, while his shoulder guards go over the long hood he has. He wears a cape as well, all of this in white except for his iron armor and the golden edges of both his hood and cape. Underneath all of this is full body and leg armor with his book attached to his hip on the left side with a chain. Judge has his well known hammer, unlike other previous Judges, his is used as his weapon and is golden hammer excluding the iron rod used to hold it. It was well sucured to his back in vertical angle to his back behind his cape. This hammer is, in fact, a type war hammer since he wanted his to be a weapon. It has one side that is completely flat and is where he would strike with and the other with a simple nail type back that was blunt with no point. On top of the block holding these two sides, is a simple half circle just for decoration.

Judge speaks again, "The next three questions i'd recommend sitting down" Roc listens and sits down. Judge starts to explain the story, "To start us off, you have been asleep for a day, so you lost a day of your entire life, congrats" Roc's eyebrows furrow at Judge. Judge now tells Roc his answers, "You're here because I need to find out what happened to Valoran after the thousand years we left this place, and I thought you would make a good partner to explore it with" Roc's eyes widen, "Wait, were in Valoran right now. What about the barrier?" Judge points at himself, then to the book. Roc understood what he was saying, but still… "And the book is…" Roc ask. Judge answers this "The book is an ancient artifact that holds the secrets of our ancestors a thousand years ago, also I ripped out this page" Judge hands over the map to Roc, Roc looks over it and notices what it is. "So this is the map of Runeterra huh, where exactly are we?" Judge stands and points to the location. "Well i'd like to start getting a move on, so were here at the end of the Serpentine River. Were going to follow the path to Demacia, we'll find out if Demacia even exist still" Roc nods his head to Judge's explamation "But-" Roc is cut off by Judge, "If Demacia doesn't exist we'll go to the four other city states on Valoran which would be Noxus, Freljord, and Shurima. Let's just hope this Demacia place still exist, and if it does were going straight for the leader of the country to get an updated map and find out if anything important has happened since we left" Roc nods his head, gets back on his feet and stretches his arms out. Roc also wonders something else, "So tell me, how did you find me and where was I?" Judge looks puzzled "You don't care about any of your valuables or whatnot?" Roc shrugs to this "I have my sword, and my clothes, I think i'm good". Roc was in his usual fighting clothes which were a black vest that stayed firm on his body with the collar out and is sleeveless. He had black leather gloves that had finger holes and elbow guards as well, unlike Judges gauntlets and full body armor except for his upper arms for movement, Roc's clothing was for swiftness and dexterity. Roc also had his golden sword with brown rope laces on the handle. Roc also had his blonde hair out straight, and at the same time somewhat messy as usual since his hair was somewhat long with his side burn hair falling down to his upper neck. Judge sighs and now answers back "I found you at some bar after I asked some people and I walked in just as you got hit in the face by this woman you were talking to, i'm not sure how it took you so long to wake up, but I don't want to question that nor the fact you got hit in the face by a purse". Everything hits Roc suddenly… The woman ask him "What do you think about women, Roc?" Roc took another shot before saying "Women… Fucking women, only gewd for sex n' money. I will sange this county to make ery woman, to have secks, secks, sexsh without choishe!" he says in a speech like manor, then a purse came out of nowhere to his face as everyone in the bar applauded him but the women. Roc shook his head, "Um… lets act like that never happened, alright?" Judge nods his head as well, "Agreed, follow me, we have horses. We can probably make it there in five or six hours, oh and it's five in the morning" Judge ends with. Roc walks over to the horse that were set up and were obviously trained since they weren't running away since they weren't set up so they couldn't roam freely. When Judge said four to five hours it obviously meant that the horses they had would take four to five hours, probably a few days on foot.

Roc and Judge get up on the saddles of their horses, Judge calls out as they both grab the reins "I'll lead, stay behind me at all times. If you fall behind for any reason, use some kind of distress signal" Roc nods his head "Um, i've never rode a horse before…" Judge chuckles at this "Don't worry, if you at least hold the reins, your horse will follow mine" Roc still unsure of riding a horse continues to ask as his anxiety infatuates and his white skin goes pale "Wait, hold on i'm all not to sure about this…" Judge whips his reins and his horse starts to go at a very fast pace running. Roc's horse pulls him forth as his horse starts to race off into the distance following behind Judge's horse. The air whipped their faces with force, Roc started to fell comfortable after riding the horse for a good five minutes and started to enjoy it. The two of them raced down the clear road that they eventually met quickly on and followed that path for the rest of the ride.

Eventually the two men made it to the city state known as Demacia. They got off their saddles, finally letting their legs walk again. The two of the fell weird to walk again, but soon got used to it. The guards did not question the men walking into Demacia, and opened the gates for them. They started to walk through the crowded streets of Demacia. Fresh fruits in markets, kids playing in the streets, and no poverty at least yet. The exact opposite of Main City of Conqueror's Land, or just known as The Main City. After the long silence that kept, Judge comments "You wish that our city was like this? Or would've you wished for no government so that we could all kill each other before the wrong hands takes the power?" Roc is shaken by this question. Rocs responds, "What do you mean?". Judge looks at him and back forward, "After getting to know you I understand you more, you're very accepting and can forgive at a heartbeat. Thats why he is still considered your friend, am I right?". Roc grits his teeth, Judge continues "You know I fixed the government and that i'm not the bad guy anymore. On top of this i've noticed how you are a very interesting person with a very happy mood, or at least trying. You're more than I used to think, you actions were right, bring down the corrupt government, but anarchy was not the right path, you need age and more experience and you would've led the revolution correctly. But thats what I like about you, you're extremely ambitious, kid. You'll make a great leader one day" Roc's face loosens, he notices that the man who he should've and used to consider his greatest enemy, is complementing him. He never knew Judge was such a wise man. "Hey, Judge..." Roc ask, "What is it?" Judge responds. "Mind telling me your past? I'll tell you mine in exchange" Judge knew already that the wise would ask questions to learn, he knew this well enough from Roc, but he never thought Roc was this caring. "How about after we figure out where the leader is" Roc nods his head.

Suddenly while they're walking down they hear, "Make way for the king". People start moving over for a carriage thats slowly moving through the streets, "All hail the king" and "We love you Lightsheild family" were thrown around when Judge had pulled over Roc, "I think we found our man, come on" Roc follows Judge to the middle of the street blocking the carriage from moving. "Are you sure this will work?" Judge nods head. Gasp are heard from the crowd, even some gossiping "Who are those mean?" "Are they Noxians?" were thrown around as well. The carriage met the men and had come to a halt. The driver said something below the level of hearing from the distance Rocco and Judge and carriage were. Finally, the crowd silent, a man in golden armor steps out of the carriage. "Bow to the king" the crowd bows towards the king. The king signals to raise their heads. The king now speaks, "For what reason have you stopped my carriage?", Judge steps forward "I'll come out and say it, were from Conqueror's land and we have lowered the barrier after a thousand years". The king just laughs, and then everyone in the crowd starts to laugh as well. The king speaks again, "You're quite amusing, if you persist to block the way you shall be taken by force" and like that the king walked away from this, "Well that really worked" Roc said, "Shut it" Judge throws back. Just as the king was going to go back in the carriage, a young woman appeared to get out of the carriage. She whispered something into the kings ear, the kings expression changed from still laughing to serious straight face. He turned to face the two of them again with a stern expression "This woman says that this place is true, are you wishing to ally yourselves with Demacia" Judge smirks, he lifts over his hood to reveal his short brown hair. He now speaks "We wish to ally ourselves with all nations that wish to be an ally of ours, but really were looking to find out about what we've missed for the past thousand years". The king smirks to this, "Very well then, come join us for the ride" Judge notices the fact that during that the young woman was smiling at the two of them. More importantly was that Roc was lost in this woman's eyes. Judge pushes Roc, and he falls off balance and falls straight to the ground "In your dreams, kid". Now the whole crowd was laughing at Roc this time, even the king was laughing and so as the woman, but on the bright side the woman at least gave him a wave and a smile as she tried to cover her giggle. Roc smiled at this and got on his feet, brushing his shoulders he made it to the carriage. The king had signaled to make room, Judge and the king sat on the ends of the door they got on, Roc sat in the middle facing a man who looked like the younger version of the king, and finally on the other end was the woman who saved both Judge and Roc, and a man who was heavily armored and looked at Roc with anger like if he had a vendetta against him. The king speaks, "Let me introduce myself and the others, i'm Jarvan Lightsheild the third, and my son next to me is Jarvan Lightsheild the fourth. The other two are siblings of the house family to protect the Lightsheild house, they are the Crowngaurds both Luxanna and Garen" all of them say "Honor to meet you" with only Luxanna adding on to call her "Lux" for short. Judge starts off, "My nickname given by people is Judge, since i'm the only Judge currently for the main city, but my name is Harold. As I stated I am the supreme leader of the main city of Conqueror's land" Jarvan the third ask after Judge is finished speaking, "Harold, were you meant to be part of these Judges from birth like my son and I?" Judge nods his head, "No, every Judge is appointed for different reasons, my family were always warriors and I was lucky enough to be the only Judge with from the military, in recent times" the king nods his head, "I see, your system is a lot like Ionia's. So your partner is not a Judge, since you stated you're the only Judge" Judge then signals for Roc to speak. Roc clears his throat, "My name is Rocco, but i'm called Roc" the king points a finger at him, "You're name is Rocco, meaning: rock and/or rest?" Rocco points a finger back, "It's not my fault that my highest skill as a mage would be earth style". Now relaxing he speaks again, "My name was meant for the reason of rest, since my entire family has been a lineage of hard workers and all my parents wanted was for me to become the one in the family who wouldn't have to endure hardship and labor by sending me to an honors academy becoming an outstanding mage and overall smart person. When I turned eighteen, my father died a year after my mother due to illness just as my mother from the same plague that it all the workers were getting at the factory. They were buried far away from where I lived. It was in the middle of nowhere, but not to my knowledge was where an ancient rune was buried a millennia ago. After it unlocked, I used my power to start a revolution for anarchy, which was successful until the last Judge remained. Five years later, he brings me here" The kings son in shock speaks angrily, "You started a revolution at eighteen! And this man brought as his company for a journey?!". Roc shuddered noticing that Judge is the person he is with after all, Judge clears up with the kings son, "I showed mercy, I thought he was a good kid and deserved to live, I am a judge after all. I didn't choose Roc just for the fact that I thought he did the right thing getting rid of our cities corruption, I also posses one of the runes as well. Mine being to, borrow, life essence for a period of time making it so that I may take numbers to my advantage. Roc's is the power to control earth at his finger tips". The carriage stops, the king speaks, "Judge come with, I would like to continue this conversation. As for you young boy-" Roc interjects "I'm twenty three" the king continuing "You may do to what you please as long it stays within the ranges of tolerance" Roc nods his head. They all left the carriage at that moment, Judge and the king headed off to the main palace, while Garen and the kings son head off in a different direction. He feels someone grab his hand and pull him, "Follow me!" Lux says teasingly as she pulls Roc by the hand into the castle and going through multiple corridors.

The door opened to a long rug to the throne, "So, king-" the king chuckles, "Jarvan, please, were equals" as he walks to pour a glass of Demacian wine for the two of them. Judge continues, "May I see a map, that wasn't from a thousand years ago, for Valoran of course?" Jarvan chuckles again, "You're quite the humorous one, aren't you? I'd like to see yours as well" Jarvan snaps at the guards and they exit to find a map. Judge unclips his book from the chain holding it to his hip. Pulling out the paper that he ripped out from the book, he hands the map to Jarvan. Jarvan examines the map, handing the wine as well to Judge, "The past two hundred years, or the second and third rune wars, the magic that was being used was so powerful that it destroyed land" the guards come back in with a map and hand it to Jarvan, he then signals them to leave. "Take a break you two, you deserve it" speaking back to Judge, "Also to know" as he hands the map, "It has been twenty years from the last rune war, and the Institute of War is a system of war these days. City states, groups, and even neutral people come as the strongest to fight in a five versus five environment, you may want to check it out" Judge gives a stern look, "The Institute of War, thats definitely my next destination" he raises his glass "Thank you very much, Jarvan" Jarvan also raises his glass, "The pleasure is mine". They both drink to this and walk to the window overlooking Jarvan's son and Garen fighting. Jarvan hands back the map, "You can keep the map I gave you, let's watch this spar" Judge only nods his head to respond to this.

They watch as Garen and Jarvan's son exchange blows, being precautions of their strikes. Garen strikes from the left and Jarvan blocks, easily parries this with his large weapon, then striking from the right that Garen dodges but fall to the ground. Judge could tell, there was something on Garen's mind. Jarvan gives Garen a hand which Garen takes easily pulling himself up. "I can tell Garen is skilled, but something seems to be on his mind, his face got more stern when he was tripped" Jarvan nods, "I noticed as well, I say we should find out what is bothering him…" "Agreed" is Judges response. They both walk through the door before going through corridors to the rooftop that the two fighters were on.

Judge and Jarvan the third, open the double door to the rooftop where the spar was being fought. The two top hierarchies stepping in to stop the fight, "Garen, for what reason do you fight your anger?" Jarvan the third ask. Garen turns and gets on a knee, "I'm sorry my highness, please find forgiveness in me". Judge right there could tell, that the king that stood to the side of him did not enjoy being put on such a pedestal, thats why he enjoyed Judge for the reason that he is so casual in conversation and knows what it is like to be the one in power. Jarvan the third orders Garen to stand, "Rise, and please tell us what is on your mind", like that Garen rises and speaks, "It's just… My sister is getting older, and I want her to marry a man who has good judgement, honor, discipline-" Garen gets cut off by Judge. "Garen, do you doubt Roc?" Garen grits his teeth, "Lux does not need a man who starts a war against his own country an-" Garen's throat his grabbed by Judge, he chokes him lifting Garen into the air. Judge now speaks directly to Garen, "Roc knows what it means to be a true leader, and he also is probably the best man who would ever take interest in your sister, so take respect in that" Judge grips him a bit tighter before finally dropping Garen to the ground. Garen gasp for breath while coughing up as he grabs his throat. Garen now gets on his two feet and apologizes, "I'm sorry, Judge" Judge puts two fingers to his forehead, "Never ask for forgiveness, only forgive yourself" Garen nods his head. Jarvan the thirds speaks, "Judge, whenever you plan to leave to the Institute of War, I can have some of our trained mages to send you there using teleportation magic" Judge understands that he can be teleported by magic, this had never been accomplished in Conqueror's. Judge nods his head, "Get the mages, were leaving now, but first I have to find Roc" Garen speaks to Judge with confidence this time, "My sister is probably at the gardens right now, admiring it as usual" Without hesitation Judge adds "Then come and show me the way, Garen". Garen leads the way taking Judge to the door to get to the roof top from ground, and they go down the stairs.

Roc was brought to a garden, it was colorful with plenty of amazing plants he had never seen from living in the city for so long. Lux walks him to the bench, sitting down to look at the beauty of the garden. Roc was still holding hands with Lux. He was lucky that he didn't take of his gloves, since his hands were very sweaty. Lux takes a deep inhale, and then exhales out enjoying the scent of the natural gardens. "Smell the air, it's very refreshing in the gardens" Lux says with a smile. Roc had to ask, "Why did you bring me here?". Lux starts to blush and puts her free hand behind her neck, looking down she answers "You just remind me of a friend I know, so I wanted to show you the place I always bring my friends too, even if you're a bit older than me…". Roc's greatest fear was coming true, the girl he was with was way younger than he thought. He was set on twenty, and he thought he could make eighteen work. What if she was sixteen… "And that age is?" he ask crossing his fingers with his free hands. "I'm eighteen" she responds back, there was a celebration of relief in Roc's head. Lux then adds on, "So where do you bring your friends to?". Roc starts to be brought back by the times of him when he was sixteen with his friends that he made in school, those were some of the best days of his life in his opinion. Especially, since during the time he met his best friend. "I used to get together with my friends and we would always go crashing into the best clubs in the main city. We'd always speed, have smoke all around in the car, taking every drug we found, and we'd be drunk out of minds… Probably not the complete life my parents imagined, but still I enjoyed that part of my life". Lux looked at Roc like he was the man, "Really?" she asked looking completely up to him never hearing anyone being that much of a man before, not even Ezreal's stories of his expeditions matched this. Roc began to tell a story of this one time he went out with his friends while remembering it all as well.

"Accelerate!" all of Roc's three friends screams in the car. The car was extremely bogged from cigarettes and different drugs that were smoked that were unknown to the boys since they didn't even ask when the stole or bought. If it was the 'shit' at the time, then it was worth buying. Roc's fazed head from all the drugs, hits the back of the car as they go from seventy to one hundred and eighty miles per hour. This was normal for people to go this fast at night in the middle of the main city. If this ever happened in the outer city, you'd be stopped by officials immediately. They park in some random alley. The car was Joey's, his family is extremely rich and he was spoiled out of his mind, he was the 'douchiest' of them all, in Roc's opinion. They walked down the alley meeting Aaron's drug dealer, he was just a huge drug guy in his school. They meet a guy who Robert, the idiot, tries speaking all cool first, "Yo! You got that good shit man!" the guy snaps his fingers and barrels of guns and lasers point from all directions. "Put the blindfolds on and just bring them in" Aaron screams back "What the fuck is this for!?". The guy talks back "You owe us plenty of money". With no resistance, the blindfold put on him and he couldn't see anything. They were brought in somewhere after a short walk, they were all thrown on there knees as their blindfolds were taken off. They were in a bar, with a gang surrounding them. Their symbol was easily recognized being a gun pointed straight forward, and in the barrel was an X. They were in the hideout of the most infamous gang of all, The Deathblows. Renownedly known for having the best assassins to offer and their name for the types of executions they had. Only the best of the best were in this gang, everyone in the gang is extremely skilled. Roc and his friends were all shaking heavily as the leader spoke, "Let's get to the point, you owe us a shit load of money, and I want it!" Joey coughs up immediately, "Please, take my money leave me alone Deathblows" before the leader could speak again, a boy Roc's age kicked open the door to the upstairs part of the bar. He was all in black, just like Roc's outfit that he always wore at the time as his 'Going out' clothes, but are now his normal clothes without the sword. Except this man was wearing more of an leather assassin hoodie with a leather cape that was all black, he had guns underneath obviously and two swords on his back. He picks up Roc to his feet, "Come with me, I need you to help me. Besides, there just trying to steal their money, and you have none" all the boys eyes widen, while Roc is dragged out the door by the man in black. They get in a very nice, modified car. It was mainly black with highlights of red outside. The everything looked very advanced from the inside, everything had a future red tint inside. Roc had to ask "How fast does this go?" the man in black just drives out and makes a hard right into the street, "Two hundred, eighty miles per hour" he slams on the accelerator hitting the max speed in only a few seconds. Roc body was being flung behind himself into the very comfy seats. The two boys make it to a club, it was one of the hardest to get in, people had to pay thousand of dollars just to get in. "Follow me" the boy says, Roc ask back "Wait, can you at least tell me your name?". The boy doesn't respond, he just walks up to the bouncer and Roc follows along. The bouncer allows the two boys into the club without question. Roc had never seen a club like this one before. Women stripping anywhere, the illuminated blue lights tinted the large room, and everyone dancing around. Roc follows the boy into a room where a man was taking drops into his eyes with naked women surrounding him. No mistake this guy owned the club from the way he acts, "Oh, it's that Deathblow I hired, but who is this little shit" the boy just glares into the boss's eyes, the boss says nothing. The boss tosses the drugs that he had put in his eyes. The boy does it first before handing it to Roc. Roc drops a drop into both eyes, immediately feeling the effects of the drug. Everything got way more colorful in the room. The boss ordered the women out as the boy made himself comfortable on the couch. Roc sits as well, the boy puts his feet up on the coffee table. The boss looks aggravated as he pulls out a case. Opening it to the boy, he orders Roc around "Kid, get us drinks as we do business" Roc walks over to the bar area as the two discuss, he remembers the boys words, 'Put this into his drink'. Roc pulls out the capsule with a strange orange liquid that mixed with the whiskey. Roc walks back with the drinks, handing specifically the one to the boss and the other to the boy in black. They all sip their drinks, right then Roc hits the boys shoe with his shoe. As soon as that happens the boy stands up pulling out a single gun, "Hands up" the boss puts up his hands before falling straight to the table unconsciously. The boy laughs, "That medicine only works if your arms go above your neck, now come on carry him to outside through the escape route" the boy opens a door, "I'll be waiting in the car" he grabs the case and leaves. Roc was lucky that the man wasn't fat. Roc picks him up on his shoulders and carries him outside to the escape alley where the boy had the car trunk open. Roc throws the boss into the trunk before closing it and hopping in the car. They drive off, "I'm going to drop you off at the train station" he hands a detonator to Roc "You do the honors" Roc presses the button and hears a huge explosion behind him and looks behind him to see the club on fire that was passing away since the car was going so fast. "Bad asses don't look at explosions" the boy says, Roc looks back straight ahead. Roc didn't even want to ask why they had to blow up the club. Soon enough, they make it to the train station. Roc ask again, "So are you going to tell me your name?" the boy throws back a phone. Roc notices it is his, "Maybe i'll tell you another time, I put myself down as 'The guy you don't know yet'" Roc wonders if he could hang out with this mystery guy ever, he seemed to take an interest in him.

Lux amazed by this story ask, "Wow thats crazy! Who was the guy? Did that actually… happen?" Lux just realized that she had gotten really close to Roc's face. Roc embarrassed as well, notices that he has to take advantage of the situation as Lux starts to back away. Roc putting a hand behind Lux's head, opens his mouth and leans in. He sees Lux closing her eyes and opening her mouth as well as his eyes finally close. His heart races as he feels the warmth of Lux's breath as well. The garden doors open, Lux and Roc jump off each other. Judge and Garen stare from the door, Garen speaks "Words cannot explain how much I have come to hate you, Judge". Judge walks past Garen "I didn't expect the man who got hit in the face by a purse a few days ago really had any game". Roc jumps at this as Lux and Garen laugh at this, "We agreed to not talk about that!" Judge shrugs, "Too bad. Come, were going to the Institute of War" "The what?" Roc is grabbed by Judge who now pulls him by the upper arm. Roc takes one last look at Lux before heading up the stairs with Judge. Judge lets go of Roc as they hear the door close behind them and the siblings sound to be arguing. Judge pats Roc on the back, "You'll see her sooner than expected, trust me on that" Roc trust in what Judge is saying, but does not understand the riddle that is being held from him.

The two of them make it to two mages on the rooftop that Garen and Jarvan had sparred. The mages clap their hands together as blue magical energy surrounds the two of them. "So where are we exactly going now?" Roc ask curiously. "Where we belong" Judge says as the magical energy teleports the two to the Institute of War.

Long chapter, I know, almost 6k words. I'm sure you all want to see action as fast as possible, so you have to get through a ton of story. What I really wanted to talk about: Like my other story, I will end the chapter with different things, but it wont be quotes like my other story. This will be like 'Did you know...' information, champion to champion jokes and/or taunts, and even full on ability guides to my OC's. The last one will sadly only be 6 since the number of OC's, but the first one is next chapter that is two weeks from now. It will be on Judge, and he has the easiest skill ceiling out of all of the characters. Have a nice monday guys.

Judge's favorite pass time is to read, but he does not have a secret romance section since he thinks romance is a joke.

Roc is actually quite shy for how much of a loudmouth he can be at times.

Judge Joke towards Jarvan "For… the... Ugh! Democracy people!"

Roc taunting Jarvan "Cataclysm, are you referring to my power?"