Ifyou dont care for a rant or for my adventures you can skip straight to the chapter below.
Ok i wasnt originally gonna say this and i wont go for a full on rant, but this website is fucking with for the secondtime by deleting/getting rid of my editing. I really can't bother to read the chapter for the fifth time, so sorry if some things after the halfway mark in the chapter looks kinda dumb. If you work for this website, please make an autosave feature or make saving the document not be a pain tp prevent more irritation from your writers.
This chapter has some stuff that I won't tell much about. I hope it wont seem odd or that I would be leaving stuff out, i'm being mysterious for a reason. Also I'm right now in an airplane and kinda tired, so not sure how much sense all of this stuff is going to make.
Also mutch of the work was done while i was listening to k-pop (something that i never do), some finska pop and comlitely random nightcore (they might have had negative effets on my consentration... well the k-pop dances surely had), while i was in an airplane (I'm right now visiting my grandparents in Portugal... oh god what have i done.) I also had to turn to agent Sam Fisher as i kinda had to steal the wifi key to use the internet here, as he (my granddad) didn't want to give it to me, delaying tthe chapter release with a few days) - story of my life right there. So there are a lot of reasons why the chapters haven't been comming out and one of them is my computer (i blame my mobos VRM, it's garbage), personal life and stuf like that, but there have been MANY leggit personal reasons why i haven't doing much here. I guess i could also throw some thanks to jabe0212, he helpped me out and gave me some good ideas and directions for the story via PM and just chatting with me and also oskari(sitso), someone in irl who pressured me into finishing this chapter. Nyt voit nauttia sun shoutoutista, kun kukaan ei ymmärrä mitä mä sanon sulle... paitsi noi 17 muuta suomalaista :DD ja muuten saatko vielä sen kuvankin hommattua vai mitenkä se toimis? Continuing on, if you have something interesting or you want to give me ideas for the story, any comments, feel free to do so via sending PM or comment. Also thanks for all those who did leave a review, i did have a nice time reading them. I can always use good ideas, or at least some more motivation.
Also as a last note, i had a bit of difficulty comming up with a second name for Alta, so i just decided to make it a place (Lunda, i made it up. Not too sure how good it is though). I almost made it rivia, because i was listening to AKB48 river (Shyvana has the same dance that is done in the video), but then thought that i'd just be ripping of witcher, so i didn't. Also Altas horses name is Iman, for many reasons, and one of them is the part i don't remember if i gave it a name yet, so yeah...
It was an odd time indeed. Alta was still confused at everything. He didn't know where to go, but neither did he really want to leave. The thought of a warm place and the people around him who he somewhat liked was something that he wanted have again but as he was riding away with the cold air, though gentle reminded him of the nature of man and it's heart which could cold and greedy, but about his fate too, if he was to return to the place he had left. Alta had always wanted to go somewhere to learn and see. He had wanted to experience many things and see them as well but as he had gotten this chance the way that he now had, it still made him wonder that could there have been another way, to leave and explore what he really believed and thought to be true.
Alta had never either liked playing the hero. Even though he knew his abilities and capabilities well, he lacked the confidence and courage, so that he could be as leathal as fighter, as he could. He liked to be told what to do, rather than come up with it, as he was a bit afraid of defeat or generally failing to do somethin, but what made even Alta wonder was "why". Why would he not be happy from the chance he had gotten? He had been blessed with a rare chance and could learn from them unlike most others. But was it meant to happen or was it just a single decision from his part that started it all?
"If you want something done, do it yourself!" It was true to the situation, as he did want the hierarchy of the Solari and the older ways to die, but as he wasn't part of them, he wasn't sure if he could influence them with anyway.
Alta came back from his thoughts as his stomach reminded him from his hunger. He had been riding for the whole night and as the sun was rise in the horizon. His vision was also starting to get a bit blurry from the lack of sleep, hunger and thirst. As the cold wind continued to clash with his body he decided to stop and try and find some food from the cold and frozen land. He pulled the bridle to make his horse stop and patted her afterwards. He climbed down from the back of his horse and patted her again and tied the bridle to a nearby tree as one came to view so that he wouldn't leave or just run away.
Alta walked a couple of meters forward to a rock and sat down on it. Even though he was cold, he finally felt peace in his mind. As he looked at the road where he had been coming from he could still easily see the mountains and especially Mount Targon which was the highest. He could only smile as he looked backwards and felt the quietness and the chily wind on his face. It was beautiful and the moment felt almost perfect, but he knew that he could not stay and look back as his own situation wasn't very good. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The small amount of rest felt good, only the couple of seconds of peace that he had gotten made him think the better things of nature and people, even though the could air was very much something else than friendly.
"Nature... you can be beatiful, yet so deadly. Tis a cruel world I guess." Alta said with a faint smile on his lips even thought he wasn't sure why that was.
Alta looked around and saw a bit of snow covering most of the ground with its white color and at the same time he felt the gentle, but cold winter breeze at his faze (← get rekt m8). As he shivered because of the cold again he decided to do something useful as he was now starting to feel his arms and legs less and less as they were beginning to feel numb more than anything.
Alta finally stood up with the little strength he still had left in his body and took again a deep breath and began walking to the forest near him to try and find something to warm himself with or something else that would be useful. As he sighed and looked around he was finally happily surprised as he looked to the ground and was. There were fresh foot steppes on the lightly snow covered forest floor. Alta knew who they could belong to, or who had left the steppes to the ground. Most likely they were bandits as most people would travel along the road to arrive quicker to the larger city states or cities, but Alta figured that he looked poor enough at the moment, so he probably would not get killed, as he looked more like a poor traveler than anything else. The least he hoped, was to find at least some leftovers or food left behind if there was a camp nearby.
As he slowly walked forward, the wind began blowing heavily on Altas face again so he turned away from it to wait for it to pass. As he shivered he noticed something down the road as he the wind was still blowing on his back. It was a cart or something like that. To Alta it seemed to be a traveling merchant or an arms dealer, who could be visiting the Rakkor and Solari, as it did happen from time to time. As that though came to Altas mind, his lips turned again to a faint smile and he began slowly jogging towards Iman, as he hoped that anything was better than the bitter cold that he was suffering from. Alta now only hoped so very hard that the person would have a kind heart and that he would help him with a way or two.
He climbed to the back of his horse and began gallopping with his frozen hands towards the mysterious cart. As the road flattened out after the small hill that Alta had been behind of, he could see that there was indeed one person standing next to the cart. What was odd about it was the fact that there was a fire next to the cart and the horse that was now visible, was not attached to the cart. It just was odd that someone would make a camp there. Him being a bandit was a possibility, but as the forest there was not thick, it was unlikely that there would have been anyone making an ambush, especially during early winter, as everyone knew how quickly the cold would come. None the less, there the person stood.
As Alta was closing on the cart, he got the feeling that he had seen it before. There was just something on it that seemed familiar. As it turned out, he had seen it before.
"Excuse me mister, could I warm up here?" Alta asked cautiously, as he looked at the person who was sitting at the back of the cart, who waslooking away from him as he arrived in front of the cart.
As the man turned quickly, Alta felt like something was wrong. The man hopped from the back of the cart and walked next to Alta and Iman.
"Alta is actually you? What are you doing here, at such a time?" The man said with a caring tone which Alta immediately regocnized, even from behind the mans scarf.
"Äldre, is it you?!" Alta said with a thrilled voice as he jumped down from the back of Iman and immediately hugged Äldre.
"Its been years. Why hadn't you come back yet?" Alta asked from Äldre as they stopped hugging each other.
"Heh, well sorry. I've been traveling and doing the usual trading, like we used to do with Amicus. How have thing been after he disappeared?" Äldre asked with some concern as he pointed towards a chair that was next to the fire.
As Alta slowly sat down to a chair next to the fire to warm himself, Äldre took Imans bridle and tied to his cart with his long scarf that he had taken from his head. After that he took a cup and picked up the kettle that had been on top of the fire and poured the tea looking drink to a cup and eventually gave it to Alta.
As Äldre had given the cup to Alta, he could see that Äldres face was clearly the same as he remembered it to be. Äldre had a face full of many battle scars, even though many of them were hidden behind his beard. The many scars and hardened skin made Äldre look like he was on his fifties even though he was more than 10 years younger than that. Alta had seen Äldre fighting before, only a few times, but he had been impressed by Äldres skills, which made Alta always wonder why Äldre had left the military right as he was joining it and become a merchant. This was a subject that Äldre had always dodged as Alta had been talking with him.
Otherwise Äldre was quite usual for a Solari, well with some new influence from the outside world that he had been fond of. His light brown hair reached the top of his shoulders, but it seemed fit with his beard. The only other unusual thing about him though that Alta was reminded about, were his eyes. Both of them were dark purple, and had an odd glow to them. Twas another thing that he had not spoken to Alta about, no matter how much he had tried to pry the subject from him. But Alta had heard from one of Äldres older kompanions that it had (most likely) had something to do with a corrupt dragon that he had once fought. But only Äldre knew the whole story as the rest of his battle unit had been killed or knocked out by the dragons black flame as it attacked.
As a fighter Äldre was a large man who was taller and heavier than than most other people. This allowed him to wield his burning longsword. The same burning runes had been carved also into his armor, which he had donated to the Solari for the next great warrior to wear and protect what they deemed important. Such had been the tradition in his family. But he had still kept his sword as it was dear to him and to up keep his own security while traveling.
Even though these things lived with Äldre, he seemed to anyone else quite normal. He was a smooth talker whó seemed to be capable of talking himself in or out of any situation. He also liked to sing songs and tell many stories, but he still didn't call himself a bard probably because he liked to tell his stories and sing to those that were traveling with him or thought to be his friends. Äldre also seems to be the closest thing, which resembles a family or a parent to Alta anymore, even though originally Äldre had only been a friend of Altas parents. He though had felt, maybe an obligation to take care of Alta, after his parents, "had disappeared".
As Alta grew, up Äldre became a merchant and a traveler, leaving Alta to often take care of himself. But Alta had also a rare chance to take part in some of these trips with Amicus, one of his trainers, someone else who had been very close to him. These trips had taught almost as much to Alta as his time in the guards had. He had been lucky to be able to travel as much as he had. But only later had Alta learned real importance of these trips and the reason why he was taught different kinds of combat styles. But he only had felt glad to have the chance.
"So how have things been?" Äldre asked again from Alta, who clearly was a bit tense.
"How have things been? I don't even know. Bad in too many cases, but simply said nothing has really changed since you left... well actually something has." Alta said sadly as he pushed his head down after he had taken a sip from the cup. What ever it was, it tasted like tea, with an odd bitter after taste, almost like iron. It clearly had been spiked with a thing or two, probably to help Äldre stay on the road.
"Whats that?" Äldre asked with slight surprise, as he lifted his eyebrow.
"Well there was supposed to be an execution some days ago, but that didnt go as planed" Alta said as he gripped his cup harder.
"Wait, was that then the reason why some days ago the whole mountain was lit up? I could see that a real long way from here." Äldre asked with actual interest.
"Well... yeah. That's where it gets complicated. I still don't know if I like the idea that I got involved to that mess or not, but I guess that only time will give an answer to that as well." Alta said with a slightly depressed voice.
"Wait, so what's going on Alta? What happened, you have to tell me. Did you do something or what?" Äldre asked again with curiosity.
*Sigh* "Fine, but you won't tell anyone, you hear me?" Alta said with a nervous voice as he took another long sip from his mug.
"Of course, I won't tell anyone about it Alta." Äldre said with some concern in his voice.
"Okay, so. I didn't do anything wrong to begin with. But you remember those lights some days ago, well that was because the execution was actually, (which was supposed to be a secret) happening but something had gone wrong with it. Long story short the mobilization was hit for the reason that the person had "escaped". I was the first one to arrive to the temple which had all of the elders and guards killed… and was dumb enough to go inside alone, making me be the next one on the list to go to the afterlife." Alta said with some confusion as he clearly did not have a very clear memory about what had happened.
"So did you kill the guy, or did he try to kill you" Äldre asked from Alta as he poured more hot tea into Altas cup and offered him a piece of bread.
"Well that's the odd thing. She didn't kill me. I still can remember the look that she had on her face. The moment when her blade was on my throat, her gaze was cold as the mountain itself, a minute later it was a mad grin. Well a day or so later I lost count as I was in the hospital, from where the, I think, the iron guard came and ripped me to a prison dungeon. From there I was saved by some guy who I haven't seen before and also I really didn't get any answer from him either, especially as he stayed there to cover my exit leaving me alone and quite confused... What am I supposed to do, or where to go? I'm just confused" Alta said with a tear coming from his eye has he was reminded from his hard situation.
"Well fate has really not been on your side, or then it really has." Äldre said with a faint smile to Alta.
"What do you mean with that?" Alta asked from Äldre, while looking him in his eyes.
"Alta, I might not live in the mountain anymore, but word travels fast, with my friends and i. I heard a little bird say that someone had been arrested some weeks ago from the possession of dangerous ancient artifacts. And I might happen to know what those items were." Äldre said with an oddly mysterious voice.
"What are you now hinting at?" Alta asked as he was not too entertained.
"She had something to do with Lunari weapons and what not, didn't she" Äldre asked victoriously like he would have been an agent who would have solved a plot.
"Ehh, well I think that she was A Lunari, wielding a Lunari weapon and armor. Not someone who had gone crazy or been corrupt with power." Alta answered like he was not surprised or moved by it at all.
"That I didn't see coming. You sure about that?" Äldre asked with a questioning face.
"Yeh, I'm pretty sure. It was pretty clear as she also had a white glowing a symbol on her forehead and she lathered on about some stuff. Never seen that symbol around on anyone else either." Alta said.
"Well that then does clear a lot of things. I'm not sure if you actually know this, as no one has ever told this to you, but you know that your mother was Lunari? No matter how big of an accident this may have been, someone has connected you to some other people, like to the person that attacked you. That is probably what is going on." Äldre asked from Alta.
"Well… yeah, I kinda learned all that during these last days. But I need someone to help me. Can you help me with anyway, like anything?" Alta asked from Äldre, as he just wanted to know something where to start from.
"Well let me think. I do know a lot of people and, well some should be coming here actually... how good are you as a fighter or as a bodyguard, or you know how willing? I don't think that you could have lost all of you skill in a short while" Äldre asked from Alta with a cheeky smile.
"Well, i'd be a guard of the sun if nothing would have happened during the last few days, why ask?" Alta responded with some excitement, until he remembered hes, not too good nerves.
"I know some Demacians who should arrive soon here, or at least should've. I might be able to get you to work for them. But we'll see about that as they come here. Now what else do you remember about the girl?" Äldre asked about.
"Well, uuuuhh she had long silver white hair and had very pale skin. Also she had the white emblem that was glowing, on her forehead and she was quite young ass well, maybe a year or two older than i am." Alta said as he was thinking
"Is she from around there, or did she jus sneak in to do what she did?" Äldre asked.
"Well… I have seen someone often in the library with the same hair and pale skin, but not sure if it's her. But It could have been, as those are quite rare traits to have around here." Alta answered.
"Hhm, here, take this. This is something that you might appreciate in the future. Or if you see that girl again you can give it to her as a date gift or something." Äldre said with his smile again with as he pulled out a ring from a small box that was on the top of his cart and gave it to Alta.
"Well, you know she didn't kill you for a reason" Äldre continued with the same tone as his grin only grew wider.
"yeah, I guess" Alta responded while he thought about the real reason as he looked at the ring.
" You know, I believe that this world has little coincidences. If you find her, she'll appreciate that, if you won't find her, consider it as a gift from me, or as a memory." Äldre said with a smile as he closed the small box.
"She tried to kill me, so why would I go out with her, if I'd ever see her… and why give this to me?" Alta asked.
"I won't ask from you if you have a connection or belief to the moon or the Lunari in general, but I know you have some in your blood. This makes you a real rare gem these days, so be proud of it. This might also help you more than anyone, because I think it might just have to do something with some real old magic. I believe that it might be made over a millenia ago, so the runes it carries are something very else than what we have today. To most it seems to be worthless as they can't unlock the runes or power within it, but I think that you just might be able to do that. I will also soon to return to mount Targon, so it might be just better for me to not have anything that could have any connections with the Lunari." Äldre said with a smile as Alta took the ring. It was quite light and it had a fancy half circle on the top of it. The material where it had been made of reminded Alta of his own pendant, but he did not think further into it.
"Thanks man. I'll pay you back one day. I promise." Alta said as he closed his fist with the ring inside it.
"Consider it as a reminder of many things." Äldre said back to Alta with a warm voice.
"Like what?" Alta asked.
"That, shall be your decision. Like everything in life, give it respect and it will give it back to you." Äldre said with the same voice.
"Is that supposed to mean something greater than i'm understanding?" Alta asked again.
"Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us. Remember that, as it shall be something that will help you forward." Äldre responded with a grin leaving Alta just wondering if he actually meant something, or just came up with everything on the spot. Regardless, he appreciated the gift… and the skill of Äldre to not pry others personal information. Even though Alta was still way too confused to call anything sure at the moment, even though he had decided to side with the Lunari
As the winds began blowing harder and colder, Äldre decided to add some wood to the fire. Even though Alta didn't say it, he appreciated the warmer fire as the coldness began leaving his body even faster. The spiked tea and the piece of bread that had been stuffed with pork, even though cold, did wonders to his empty stomach.
"So, when are your friends actually coming here? You'll soon run out of firewood you know." Alta finally asked from Äldre, as he had finished his bread and the cup of tea that he was having.
"They were supposed to be here already before dawn, but I do not know. The bad weather must have caughed them up." Äldre responded calmly.
"Ahh, speaking of the devil, look. That might just be them." Äldre said, as he pointed towards a duo moving in towards them. It was quite hard to see them as a blizzard seemed to be erupting around them.
"Who exactly are these guys? Do you know them or what?" Alta asked as he stood up from the chair and looked along the strait road to see the people moving towards them.
"Well I do know some Demacians, but I was not told who these guys are." Äldre said with some caution as he continued looking.
"If they knew that you had something, why didn't they just buy it back then? Why bother coming here?" Alta asked.
"I just happen to tell multiple people what I have and where it can be bought. Demacians are often quite keen on light magic and stuff like that, things that you can get from the Solari. As the Solari don't give their possessions often away, many try to buy them from me as I can get said things. Usually if the item has something to do with magic, the mage will come themselves to buy the actual product from me. So if you speak show respect. But please do open your mouth if you want to get hired by them." Äldre said smoothly as he seemed to know quite well about what he was talking about.
"So if I really can, should I really go with them?" Alta asked with a nervous voice as he looked at Äldre.
"Of course, their nice people who'll respect you. But remember, the more skill you show, the more respect they will show to you. If you're good enough, you might even become a bodyguard of the prince or queen. Anything is possible in this world, remember that." Äldre said with a warm voice again as he looked at Alta.
As Alta heard Äldre say what he did, his mind cleared up and he started smiling again, thinking that maybe it was all meant to be. It clearly was the best thing to do at the moment though, as Äldre was still going to visit the Solari and Rakkor and without guidance, money and help Alta would not be able to go anywhere.
"Okay, i'll go with them, if I can." Alta said with a cheery voice and a smile.
"Good." Äldre said with a warm voice again.
Äldre and Alta continued talking as the Demacian slowly walked towards them. As snow had began flying around more by the minute, visibility was quite bad. None the less, the Demacians still made it to Äldre and Alta.
"Good day to you" Said a man with a sturdy and strong voice, from behind his cape as he stepped in front of Äldre.
"Garen, it is you? Pleasure doing business again with you. But I do not expect you to do the purchasing." Äldre said with a surprised voice as he clearly did not expect to see him.
"Ah, that's correct." Said a bright and cheery voice next to Garen. The person seemed to be a young woman, a bit younger than Garen, but quite a lot smaller than he was.
"And you are young miss?" Äldre asked with a polite tone from her.
"Luxana Crownguard" She responded to Äldre.
"Following your brothers foot steppes then, miss Luxana?" Äldre continued with his almost too formal voice.
"You could say so, but is he doing the same?" Luxana asked from Äldre as she pointed Alta with her staff.
"Ah, I was hoping you'd ask that. But we'll talk about him later." Äldre continued.
"Äldre, you won't get away that easily. Tell us something about the kid if you want us do something with him." Garen said with interest, probably because he had none towards the item that Luxana wanted.
"My name is Alta of Lunda your highness. I also am a Solarium custodian, I hope that I could assist you" Alta said humbly as he bowed in front of the Demacians.
"Hhmm... interesting. We'll think about it. But now, the reason why we came here. I assume that you have the pendant you promised." Garen said with an ever less interested voice again, as magic became the subject again.
"Of course. I always do, i'm just a honorable merchant." Äldre said with a grin as he pulled a necklace from one of his jackets pockets and gently placed it in Luxananas hands. She carefully lifted the pendant in front of herself. As the pendant hanged in front of her, she placed her left hand below it and illuminated it with some light.
"Interesting, this seems to be just what you promised, but I feel like something else is here. Ancient magic, so do you have anything else that you can sell." Luxana asked from Äldre as she closed her hand with the pendant inside it.
"Well, not really. Nothing as valuable as that, or so I think." Äldre said as he didn't really know what Luxana was speaking of, as he was not a mage. This was something that Luxana didn't want to let go. A chance to buy 2 rare pendants. As she inhaled deeply, she was somewhat surprised as she felt the power coming from Alta, rather than from Äldres cart. As a result she took a step forward and lifter her staff. She then pressed her staff to Altas chest, just on top of his pendant.
"Could you please show this to me." Luxana said with her bright and cheery voice.
"Uhh, sure" He said to her as he carefully gave his pendant to her. He also never really had thought that anyone would have had any interest for his old pendant.
As Luxana gave the other pendant to Äldre and then like before she took Altas pendant into her right hand and lifted it in the air while she placed her left hand below it to illuminate it with some light.
"Hhm, so you own this?" Luxana asked from Alta as she looked him into his eyes.
"Yes, miss." Alta clumsily responded to her.
"How much do you want from it, I can pay much" She responded to Alta.
"Ehh, i'm sorry. I really don't know it's value and It's not for sale." Alta responded.
"Would 10000 gold sound good? Or would an estate in Demacia sound good for you? You can choose." Luxana responded to Alta with her cheery voice again, as she really did not want to hear no as an answer. Even though Alta never had played too much with money or really ever had needed it, he knew it's huge value and that it could buy him much.
Alta didn't really know if he should sell his pendant, as it only was a pendant, and as he was no mage, he could not really use the runes it had on it. As he scratched the back of his neck, he felt slight pressure just to say yes, and it would probably be better as well, to seem to be like a person who could be useful to the Demacians. As he thought about it, memories popped up in his head reminding him about the things in his life and the things and times he had had before. As he wondered if those would be worth the large amount that was offered to him, Äldre helped him.
"Ehh, excuse me miss crownguard, but Alta is smart merchant. He won't sell something which value he doesn't truly know." Äldre said to Luxana, after which he looked at Altas relieved face and winked with a smile, as he knew that Alta did not know what to say.
"I understand... but remember my offer stand any day. Just ask." Luxana said with a hint of disappointment as she handed Altas pendant back, but she still kept her smile on her lips.
"Ahh, but but but, would you still be interested of taking the boy with you? He can be great use to you." Äldre continued.
"Sorry, but..." Garen managed to say as Luxana bumbed him with her elbow.
"Excuse us" She said with a happier voice, as she pulled a confused Garen some meters away to talk to him.
"Hey Äldre, have you done this kind of stuff before, you know, getting others to work as servants and what not" Alta asked from Äldre.
"Whaaat no, you make it sound like slavery... well no I haven't. You're the first, but i'm only doing this as I have the gut feeling that you'll need all the help you can get right now." Äldre said with his snarky voice as he grinned again.
"Oh yeah, i'll just tell you something right away, it's a thing that I didn't know at first either. Garen might be a bit, uhh, well overprotective and nationalistic. What i'm saying is, don't disagree with him if the matter is Demacia, Noxus or his family, but you know the important stuff so I think that you should be fine in Demacia." Äldre said to Alta with a more serious tone as he did not want him to get into the trouble that he had gotte himself into with his loud mouth once, a story for another "
"You have an awful amount of confidence behind this" Alta muttered out to himself, but still remaining quiet.
"What are they actually talking about" Alta asked from Äldre.
"Heh, just read her lips. To me It seems like she'd be quite willing to have you tag along with them, or so I think." Äldre says to Alta.
"Why so?" Alta asks.
"Well either she really wants your pendant... or someone has a thing for you. Take your pick, mine is the latter." Äldre said with his snarky voice and grin.
"You used that line too often when we were last time together for it to work on me." Alta said as he felt Äldre trying to tease him.
"Well let's just hope that she's persistent enough. Garen might be just a bit vary, because of the recent skirmishes that Demacia and Noxus have been having. He has been a bit tense probably because of that, neither does he trust you, so there is that." Äldre said as he grabbed a mug and the tea kettle and poured something for himself to drink.
As a minute or two had passed Gareb and Luxana finally turned around and began to walk towards Alta and Äldre. Even though they seemed to have agreed on something they still were speaking, though Garen was more likely complaining according to his face.
"And now i don't owe you anything from last years snowdown." Garen said to Luxana, which seemed to be a bit of an odd comment.
"You can jut say that you forgot." Luxana said back to Garen as they continued walking closer to Alta and Äldre.
"I was busy." Garen responded to her.
"Sure, sure you were." Luxana said back sarcasticly.
"So how do they know eachother?" Alta quietly asked from Äldre as the duo started arguing again.
"They're siblings..." Äldre responded.
"Ohhhh..." Alta mumbled.
"Fine, it has been decided. You can come with us, if that is what pleases you. Even though I respect Äldre, it does not mean that I respect your word of being a Solari elder guard. You shall be tested once time comes and I hope that you shall be ready... oh and Lux you'll do the reports and handle Lilia" Garen said first to Alta and then Luxana.
"Naturally." Luxana said happily as she handed the gold from Äldres pendant to him.
"Ahh, Alta of lunda wasn't it? Well, shall we leave, or do you have any business her?" Luxana asked from Alta.
"Just a moment please." Alta said before he turned around to thank Äldre.
"Thanks man, I really owe you one, or two..." Alta said to Äldre.
"Hey, you're the closest thing I have to a family and I'm pretty sure that it has been the same for you especially after Amicus, or have things changed since then" Äldre teased again.
"Heh, well i'm not sure... maybe." Alta said thinking about the night before and if it really had happened.
"Lucky you. Also about the Lunari thing. I recommend looking into that, especially with that pendant, because I didn't know that your mother was a mage, or that she would have had anything that valuable, but i'm sure that she knew it's value, because she didn't ever want to sell it."Äldre said
"But as always Alta, Let life itself lead you, always help and payback what you owe. This way fate shall know to who it should smile to and to who not." Äldre continued as he hugged Alta again.
"I hope our paths shall cross again Äldre, thank you for everything and goodbye. Ohh... and can you borrow anything warm, because I have only these on?" Alta said with a smile they separated from each other.
Äldre was happy for Alta. He was always happy to help him, but he also felt obligated to do so, because of their past (a story to be told soon). He had only know Alta for about 10 years about half of Altas life, but the time they had been togeather, they had become quite close, even though Äldre had spent large amounts of time trading outside of the Solari people.
Äldre was not sure if to laugh or sigh as he walked to his cart and picked up a blanket and some gloves. As he turned around and threw them to Alta, he only hoped that everything would go well, even though he knew that it would not be too realistic. After that Äldre walked to Iman and opened the knot that he had made with his scarf and left it on Imans back so that Alta could keep it.
"Also where did you get her from? She seems to be an exellent horse." Äldre complimented.
"Well that's kinda complicated, but mom gave it to me, I think" Alta responded with a shaky voice as he didn't know what he truly should say.
"Well i'm not sure how much I should believe you, but lets say I do. Just remember to pay her back." Äldre said seconds later as he wasn't sure if he had missheard Alta.
"Well I think that it'll be hard" Alta responded with a smile as he took Imans bridle and put on the scarf that Äldre had given to him.
"just stay alive. But I feel like our time is up, goodbuy" Äldre said with a smile as he lifted his hand as a goodbye to Alta, to which Alta responded with a nod as he turned to face Luxana and Garen, and so Altas trip began.
The weather had changed dramaticly compared to what it had been during the night. As winter was finally making it's appearance and quickly it did, was the ground covared with a small amount of snow everywhere around the mountains and so was bound to happen everywhere in weeks as winter was not kind in Valoran. Even though snow was faling and he was still a bit tired, he decided to walk instead of riding Iman, as felt it to be impolite.
This was a harsh reminder to Alta of what his life might be like in the future. It would have it's ups and downs, but now there would be no one to catch him when he would fall, or maybe the Demacians be kind enough to help him if he'd fall in trouble? Alta just hoped that he would not have to find out, as if the anwser would be "no", would his situation be quite bad in many ways.
Something else that Alta also hoped for, was that he would not be dragged between Noxus and Demacia, or that a war would not ignite between them, as he knew that he would not be able to have much freedom if he'd be placed to the front, between the two powers.
Altas mind was plagued by thoughts of the future and of the past. He felt a bit like a fool as he had not even asked what his service would mean, but he hoped that it would include training and having a tight schedule. It would at least help him adapt and move on from something that was not anymore relevant in his life. None the less the situation was and it had not changed, so Alta did something to change that.
"Miss Luxana, if I may ask, what shall be my task once we arrive, and where will we arrive?" Alta asked as he was complitely clueless.
"Please just call me Lux, no need to be so formal, i'd just like for us to be friends." Lux said with her happy smile
"Just don't get too close to her..." Garen grumbled.
"Don't mind him. He should calm down a bit during the trip. Demacia is a bit far away at the moment and as there is no real hurry, we're going to the institute of war. It's quite a fancy place, so you'll probably like it." Lux continued as she hit Garen with her elbow.
"What will we do in the institute? I did not know that you can have this many guests there with out warning." Alta said to Lux.
"I and Garen are champions in the league, you'll be the only guest. You are welcome to enjoy the stay, you could even train with Garen before he has his matches, as isn't single combat where you specialize?" Lux said again.
"Well, I have much experience and it includes for example Demacian training. But yes, I have much experice in single combat, though only a very small amount of it has been real combat." Alta saidly a bit shyly as he lacked much needed confidence.
"Ah that'll be fun, you can then fight against Garen, a public single battle would fit the situation fine as there should be none too soon and the season is on break." Lux said with her now usual smile.
"I think i'll be better of if others aren't watching." Alta responded nervously.
"Ahh, you're no fun, well the Demacians house in the league will be watching." Lux said to Alta who was not entertained. But it now only gave Lux an idea.
"If you beat Garen, i'll give you my blessing as you are making you request to join the army." Lux said with a devilish smile as she knew that it would motivate Alta.
"If you're giving me a decision i'll consider it, if it's your will, it'll be my duty." Alta responded to Lux with the same way that he had often responded to many elders in the past, making him sound overly fancy.
"You already start to sound like a bit of a prince." Lux said with a smile making, Alta blush a little behind his new scraf, making it invisible to Lux and Garen.
"But if I say no, what will exactly happen to me, or where will I go?" Alta asked as he was curious.
"Well I do not honestly know. It shall depend on what you wish to do and what your skills are like. If you prove good enough, you'll probably be trained personally by Xin Zhao or maybe even by Shyvana, they are well respected and know within our military." Lux pondered.
"Well, if I prove to be good enough, and i'll get the chanse to train with someone who is of high level, I guess I can barely wait it then." He responded
"trust me, you won't." Garen cut in again.
"Well that's probably true" Lux said with a bit of humor in her voice.
Those were names that Alta knew that he had heard before. He pondered the part if he should say about his past experiences and training. He after some thinking decided that he would tell Lux and Garen what little he remembered.
"I have heard of them and i might have even seen them actually." Alta said with a vaery voice.
"Really, now have you?" Both Lux and Garen asked at the same time as they very much doubted the actual possibility of it being true.
"Well either one of you remember someone called Amicus, I was his disciple and with him I have visited Demacia yaers ago." Alta calmy continued.
"Well the name comes to my mind but i'm not sure from where" Garen said as he rubbed his chin.
"Well I hope that you remember something that you have seen. But now I know to at least put you against those two if I ever get a chance to affect something." Lux said with a grin again.
"Me and my loud mouth." Alta grumbled again, slightly discontent about hearing what she just said.
"Ohh, they're also champions in the league, so we also have that to think about." Lux continued making Alta slightly regret about speaking up.
As they walked more and more, letting hours pass, the wind and cold became even worse and snow began to fall even more. It was something that Alta had been used to as he did live on a mountain after all, but it was something he had never gotten truly used to as he prefered cool air to hot or cold. As weather kept changing Lux decided to do something about it.
"Hey, you guys want a light shield?" She loudly asked trying to overcome the loud wind.
"Sure." Garen said from the front, making Lux swing her staff which shot out a britght shield/bubble of sorts. This then stuck on Garen as it came beck like a boomerang from his side and began shielding him. After this Lux did the same to herself.
As Alta watched this happen he was thinking of asking Lux to shield him as well. This was so, until he looked at Garen for a second and his eyes began itching, just reminding him of the bad feeling that he would most likely get.
As Lux asked Alta, he stumbled on his words and clumsily declined her. The freezing wind though was not a kind negotiator and as Alta looked for a couple of minutes from the back of the trio how neither one of the Demacians were even shaking unlike he, who was. At this point he decided to do something... like asking.
"Uhh Lux, does your magic change if you use lets say a different staff?" Alta shyly asked from Lux trying not to look obvious.
"Well if you talking about the type of light I can illuminate it depends. If the lights critical illumination force point changes with the variation of 23%, can then dark light come into contact with bright light. At this point if the object where I draw some of my power from, is strong enough to manipulate or bend the both of-"
"Something that a peasent like me can understand please." Alta said interupting Lux.
"Well, yes if the said object is powerful enough." Lux grumbled as she would have wanted to lecture Alta about light magic. (She didn't even get to the good stuff yet, like how the void has different corrupt light and is a combination of-) ←shut up narrator! ←totally not trying to break the 4th wall here ← shit did again...
"Well can you cast a shield on me while you are using this?" Alta asked from Lux as he pulled his pendant from below his shirt, and hanged it in front of Lux. As she turned around to look what Alta meant, a new smile came to her lips.
"Yes!" She said enthusiasticly to Alta, making him wonder what was in the end so great about the pendant, especially as no one else had ever been so interested from it, but as he didn't want another lecture he didn't even really bother to ask.
"Man is she easy to entertain..." Alta thought to himself as he carefully gave the pendant to her.
As Lux put the pendant around her neck her smile only seemed to become even greater. After that she took a ring out of her finger and put it into her one of her jackets pockets. After this she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply while she lifted her he staff and pointed Alta with it. As she finally opened her eyes she slashed her staff to her left, letting a burst of bright light out. As the light went forward it soon began coming back like a boomerang. As Alta realized that it was about to hit him he managed to close his eyes from its brightness. As Alta opened his eyes he was surprised. He didn't feel anything odd neither did anything look different with anyway.
"Is it now on me?" Alta asked from lux as he looked at his own hands and noticed that there was not wind anymore blowing at him.
"Ahh, yes. But you shouldn't see it too easilly, only we can see it, and it really is different. At least compared what Garen has on him. This really is a great thing." Lux said to Alta as she held the pendant on her palm and looked at it.
"What so great about it?" He finally asked from her.
"uhh, i'm not sure. To me it feels like it would have been cast from pure light itself. And the runes it has are something I have never even read or seen existing. I'd like to use more right now, but I already have an odd feeling, so I shouldn't." Lux said explained, while not knowing too much either.
"Why can't you use it much more?" Garen asked this time being, most likely worried.
"It's just that i'm not used to these runes, they require a lot of strength, or so it felt. But thanks for the borrow." Lux said as she handed the pendant back to Alta, to which he only responded with a smile and a nod.
As the trio began moving forward Alta could notice that there was something around him, but he was only glad that Lux had been so kind to even offer to help him. As he thought about, he didn't really have anyone too close to him as a friend that he missed, or that he knew and had been left behind. Of course Alta had left Äldre behind, but he would not stay in the mountain, neither did Alta see him as a friend, but more as a family member as he had none really left anymore.
As winter was coming, were the days also getting shorter. This meant that the time that the amount of warm time was lesser than usual, making the trio forcing to move faster.
PS: sain Ebolan kun kuuntelin Sabotagen levikset repee (nightcore) :((
PSS:On a serious note thanks for reading, and while talking about songs, my story does remind me of a particular song, if you can guess it you can be proud of of yourself. Plesase feel free to leave guesses somewhere.