Chapter 4

After teleporting once more, I saw that this time we were on a wide road. Beautiful green fields surrounded us and there was a crossroad just ahead of us. I read the signs that pointed the forking ways, the one on the right saying "Noxus" and the middle one telling it would lead us back to Zaun. On the left, there was a newer looking sign, which told the travelers that they were not far from "The Institute of War". A few kilometers walk, it told as I inspected the smaller writing beneath the name. "So" I started saying, clearing my throat "we're not going to teleport anymore?" I asked with clear hope in my voice. I don't think I could handle a third one.

"Yes" he said, and started walking towards the road that would lead us to our final battlefield. Why did the thought bring up such a negative feeling in me? I should be glad to finally get this thing done with. Or maybe it was the teleport sickness kicking in. I walked a few meters behind him, not daring to get any closer yet not daring to stray any farther. I inhaled the fresh yet warm countryside air in my lungs, and breathed it out as if to wash away my negative (and silly) thoughts.

"You know, I've used it many times before," I started to tell him, "in the League. I've never felt sick from doing it before. You sure you're not just a bad teleporter?" I asked him, and he must have heard the ironic tone in my voice as he suddenly turned around. His face didn't betray any emotion though, as he looked me with his straight poker face. "How many times have you tried to teleport -with- someone?" he asked, and turned back ahead, continuing his tranquil walk. Honestly, this man never ceases to impress me, I thought to myself. Wait, what did I just think?

I can't take it anymore. I've been thinking about him constantly. Ever since we left that bar, somehow the so called "enjoyable" memories of him keep popping up in my head. Maybe I'm just trying to find something good in this bastard before I load his head full with lead? Yes, that must be it.

After we had turned on the road to the institute, we walked for almost an hour without speaking to each other. This is much better, I thought to myself. We could already see the big building from our position. The cursed place. I would've never joined the League if it wasn't for my revenge against Twisted Fate. I never really agreed to this duel though, I thought to myself. He just went and did it. And I went with him. So here I am walking down the road with the guy I swore to kill, to the place where it definitely isn't possible. Well, not possible in the concrete way of killing. Fuck my life.

After walking for a few more minutes we finally arrived at the gates. The blue crystals shining brightly reminded me of Taric's gem magic. I've never really walked in there like this. When we're summoned to fight we get thrown straight away into the reception hall, while our Summoners get prepared for the match. From there we advance to whichever Field they're going to compete in. It's funny how we talk about them in the way that they're the ones to fight. All they really do is tell you where to go, when to shoot and what to buy. We do all the running around, while they're doing the brain work. I respect the physical stuff much more.

We climbed the steep stairs to the top, and walked in through the huge iron doors. We stepped in to an enormous receiving hall with a 50 meter tall roof. There were statues that looked like the turrets used in the Fields of Justice, except these weren't hostile. I suppose that they turned on you if you tried anything funny though. The walls were lined with paintings of all the champions, including both of us. The newer champions had brighter frames surrounding their happy, angry or motionless faces. We walked past the reception desk to the hallway behind it. There was nobody to welcome us in. Actually...

The whole place was deserted. Usually you would see employees rushing by, or at least a few champions roaming about but this was unheard of. Twisted Fate seemed to be able to read my mind and said calmly: "It seems that the Summoners are put on hold for a few hours. They're fixing some portal gateways which the Summoners use to connect to us." It was a mystery to us all where the Summoners came from. All that we knew was that they're not from our world, but a completely different one. Perhaps another universe. I couldn't really comprehend this idea of some alien forces toying with us for their leisure.

But this time we would be fighting without their "aid". We would use our own will to make our decisions, to decide which one of us deserves to live. But then a thought occurred to me. "Wait, just how are we going to fight if we're not being summoned?" I asked Twisted Fate. He simply smiled and pointed a finger in my direction. I turned around, and saw nothing behind me. The hallway was empty and it had numerous doors lined on both of the walls. I turned back to him with a questioning expression. "Oh just follow me" he said and lead the way. I shrugged and went after him.

We passed offices, a library, an infirmary, waiting- and conference rooms. I never knew that this place was so huge. And this was only the first floor. Usually when I'm summoned here I just walk to the reception and they teleport us forward to the waiting lobby. It's a teleporting fest. Nothing like Twisted Fate's teleports though. Or the ones we occasionally use in matches. These teleports are so familiar I don't feel a thing. They need us to be swift when a game is starting.

Sometimes though a champion takes longer to appear here and it slows the summoner down, making all the participants to wait. Nobody likes a slowpoke, and I've got a feeling that the Summoners especially are the impatient ones.

Suddenly the dark clad man came to a halt. It was a dead end. There was no door at the end of the hall, only a wall. There was a large painting hanging on it, picturing three summoners in dark capes, hovering over something that looked like a bowl full of light.

I started to get irritated once more, but I thought it would be better not to lose my cool at the moment. "So, you brought me to the center piece of this art exhibition? Looks nice, now can we carry on before my hair starts falling off from all the excitement?" I said, a little proud of my smart comment. Didn't lose my cool. I'm a good man.

"Yes, exactly. This is THE center piece of our exhibition." Twisted Fate said, and started to run his hand along the painting's frame. Bewildered by his calm response I decided to lean against the wall and crossed my arms. Keep your cool Malcolm. Keep your cool. "Now don't tell me we're here to steal it. I came here to fight you, not to get you some pocket money." I didn't really think this was the case, but I did wonder what in the world he was doing.

Twisted Fate kept touching the frame, going from bottom to top, and then he halted. There was a light "click" and then a sound of motors starting to run. The painting slid upwards and revealed a long and dark tunnel, which was lightened up by torches setting on fire one by one. The blue coloration of the flames gave me shivers, even though it was the same shade of blue I saw at the gates. "If you know where to be at the right time, you're bound to hear some good stuff. This little secret I overheard from a certain prodigal explorer who promised to make this secret doorway "much more secret looking". Not sure if it really is that obvious or if he's good at what he does." he smirked at the end of his speech, and hopped through the hole in the wall. "Come on, our real exhibition is just about to start".

I really hate this guy's guts.

A little note from the author:

Hello again! I'm sorry for not updating this thing for a while, some RL things happened. On another note, I think the last chapter is going to be the 7th one (not promising anything, just what I had planned in my head) and I'm currently writing the next one. And thanks for the few reviews I got, I wholly agree that there isn't enough fan fiction of these two out there!

Ok, I'm out now. Cheers!