Chapter 8: Fall
The Shadow Isles. A place of torments and mystery. Many who go often never return. Others go mad. But, a few stay, and become a part of the Isles.
Hecarim, Thresh, Evelynn, Elise, Yorick, Karthus, and Mordekaiser. These are all the known champions of the Shadow Isles. But, like all souls of the Isles, they were once human. And ofr various reasons, they became a part of the Isles.
Hecarim, once a soldier in a culture long since dead. He struggled his whole life, and finally became a general. He was respected, and loved his country. He was put in charge of a battalion to fight an army of an opposing army, now known as Noxus. He led his men to certain death, but he didn't care. he wanted to protect his country by all means necessary. He fought forces of King Jerico. His men dead, he struggled to his feet, bleeding, cursing. He saw General Damian Du Couteau. He saw his horse, bleeding, walk to him. he got on its back, and charged the general, holding his sword high.
Damian took a sword from the ground, and killed Hecarim by sending it through his heart, and breaking the horse' spine in half. Both Hecarim and his stead died at the same time. He hated Damian, and wanted his revenge. But, many years later, he was reborn on the Shadow Isles. His body covered in the same metal that his armor was, and his body a mix of man and horse. He looked off its misty shores, and saw land across the water, and travel for eight years through the sea, until he made it to the main land of Valoran, and found out that Damian was dead, leaving him empty, taking his rage out in his path, leading the soldiers of his fallen battalion where ever he went.
That was, until he found the League, and a new existence. He now serves the Shadow Isles, and fights for a new master.
Snowdown was a fun time. Everyone had something to tell the others about.
Ashe held a new bow across her back. Garen, a new blade. Katarina constantly stared at the dagger of her ancestor, and admired its potential to kill. And so on.
Vi looked exhausted. She had spent two days and nights in Noxus, enduring the hyperactive Draven leading her everywhere. Caitlyn just laughed when Vi told her of this.
Riven was just sitting around, listening to others tell their stories. Talon, who guarded Katarina, was doing the same.
Jarvan and Shyvana were telling Ashe and Tryndamere of what happened at the feast in Demacia.
Sadly, these were the last times they would be at ease for so long.
Luwin coughed again.
"Grandmaster?"Soraka asked, walking in.
Luwin had changed so much over Snowdown. He had lost half his weight, making him look like a living skeleton. His eyes had dark rings under them, and had sunken half an inch into his head. He was also coughing up blood every so often.
"Come in,"Luwin said with his now weak voice.
Soraka put a hand on Luwin's neck and took a step back.
"What is it?"Luwin asked.
"I don't know. Something is contaminating your blood and organs. Have you had anything unusual lately?"
"Nothing really,"he stated."I've just had my usual teas and foods as every other day."
Soraka looked at his empty cup."Mind if I check you cup?"
Luwin coughed."Go ahead."
She took the tea-cup and sniffed it. She sighed."Nothing out of the ordinary. Just Ionian tea."
Soraka made a quick potion and handed it to Luwin."Drink this. It will help uncontaminate your blood."
"Thank you,"Luwin said chugging the potion down. He gagged, but held it down."Awful stuff."
"It has Demacian Firefly root in it,"Soraka replied."Very good at uncontaminating the body."
Luwin nodded, and Soraka left the study.
He grunted."Gren, bring me something strong,"he said out to the door."
"Yes Grandmaster,"Gren replied.
Shen shivered."The Blance is breaking."
"I agree,"Kennen added, standing still."Something is off with this peace."
"Something in the League is distorted,"Akali said, sharpening the sword Shen had given her."We need to look around."
Shen nodded."Agreed."
"Yes,"Lee Sin said walking up."If I had to guess, it has to do with the Grandmaster."
"That, I dought,"Shen told him."Luwin is a balanced man."
"I have been wrong before,"Lee Sin replied.
"Then who?"Kennen asked.
Shyvana was laughing."Jarvan, really. You think to little of yourself."
"Not really,"Jarvan said back to her."It took me that long to see what was right in front of my eyes."
She shrugged."And am I any better? I was silent for so long. If it wasn't for Ahri, things would have stayed the same."
"Then I give her my thanks,"Jarvan laughed.
"Your welcome little prince,"Ahri said, rubbing her tail across his face.
Jarvan jumped back a bit."Where did you-?"
"Really Jarvan, we have shared a bed enough times you know I can be anywhere without you noticing."
Shyvana's eyebrow twiched. She gave ahri a bit of an annoyed look."You mind not flirting with my boyfriend?"
Ahri laughed."Don't worry, i'm not going to take him from you. I've had my fun. Its your turn now."
Jarvan and Shyvana both began blushing a deep red.
Ahri laughed.
Ashe rubbed her growing bulge, showing the growth of the child inside her. she laways felt happy when her hand was on it, felling the slight movements that humans would miss.
Trynadmere lay snoring on the bed. He had drunken the night before, as to no surprise to Ashe, and was fast asleep.
Ashe, always the first one up, had prepared food and drink for him when he woke up.
Ashe forced her self to stand, and walked off to the mess hall.
Cho'gath inhaled his pork roast.
The void creachers ate a lot of food, but Cho'gath most of all. Khazix prefered his food fresh and hunted. Kog'maw didn't care, but ate less than Cho'gath.
Everyone just turned away from them. The only person still staring was Thresh, still new to all this stuff.
"Where dose all the food go?"he asked."Maybe I could torture him to find out."
"No,"Elise replied."Leave Cho'gath alone, or you could be his next meal."
Karthus laughed."Elise, you still have weakness in you."
Elise shrugged."So? Not all of us embraced the Shadows like you Karthus."
Mordekaiser nodded."True."
Elise bit into the food she had been wrapping in webs, and bit into it.
"Still disturbing,"Yorick stated, looking away from Elise eatting.
Soraka took the swab of blood she had taken from Luwin's desk, and began examining it.
On the floor was a seal she used to separate toxins from water. she began a small chant, and the blood began to float in the air.
She moved her hands, separating the blood and toxins. The blood was put into a bowl, while the toxins were put in a small vial. She repeated the process with the blood five more times until the blood was clear of the toxins.
Soraka sniffed the toxins and nodded."Smells of spider venom. Elise should know, if anyone."
She put the blood off to the side. she covered the vial, and went to Eise's room.
Ryze read through the book, Secrets of the Shadow Isle. It listed many poisons and regents that only existed in the Isles.
"I'll need Elise or Karthus to bring me some of these items one day,"Ryze said to himself.
There was a knock on his door."Come in,"he said.
LeBlanc walked in."Ryze,"she said.
He turned."Yes LeBlanc?"
She threw him a scroll."Its written in a language long forgotten. You and Xerath are the only ones who might be able to decode it."
Ryze read it."Magicly coded."
"Can you break it?"she asked.
He nodded."Yes, but first, where did you get it?"
"Took it from a summoner Gren sent off."
Ryze laughed."Very well."He closed the scroll."Xerath,"he said in a whisper.
"What?"Xerath asked a few minutes later. He tried going through the door, until he realized the metal around his body couldn't go through the door. He opened the door, and floated in.
Ryze showed his the scroll."Can you read it?"
"Magicly coded,"Xerath replied."It would take me a couple weeks alone to uncode this."
"And with my help?"Ryze asked.
"Five days at most,"Xerath replied.
LeBlanc nodded."Will you do it?"
Ryze raised an eyebrow."With this much protection, it must be interesting. You have my aid."
"Same,"Xerath said.
"Thank you,"LeBlanc finished.
"Did you send my message off?"Gren asked a young summoner.
"Yeah,"The summoner replied."I sent the scroll off a few minutes ago."
"Good, you will be rewarded greatly if everything works out."
"Thank you my lord."
Gren held up a hand."Now, let me take the Grandmaster his beer."
"Yes, my lord,"the summoner finished, walking off.
Gren winced."LeBlanc, your stench is everywhere in this. I have five days to finish."
Zed sat down."What is it Shen?"
"The Balance is broken,"Shen told him. He fiddled with his swords.
Zed was also uneasy with Shen.
"And?"Zed asked."The Balance is a joke."
"Joke or not, its broken. Somebody is breaking it."
"Why should I care?"Zed asked.
Shen sighed."It envolves the League. We just don't know how."
"Ha. So?"Zed asked."It might be fun."
"No. We are all uneasy. You feel it too."
Zed froze."Yeah, and? It dosen't envolve you."
"Wrong,"Shen replied."It dose."
Lux stood before Shyvana."I challange you."
Shyvana stared at her."Why?"
"I want a challenge. I don't care where, or when, I want to fight you."
Jarvan raised an eyebrow."Luxana, whats wro-"
"Shut it,"Lux said giving him an evil glare.
Jarvan just went silent. Ususally only Noxians talked that way to him. Hearing a demacian say this was shocking.
Shyvana sighed, knowing why Lux was so eager to fight her."Fine. Proving Grounds in one hour."
Lux snorted."First one to destroy the Nexus wins."
"Yeah,"Shyvana replied, scratching her head.
Lux walked off, still a bit mad.
"Are you sure about this?"Jarvan asked.
"She needs to let her anger out. And, as it is, its better me than you."Shyvana went to her room to put her armor on.
"A match?"Luwin asked asked after a bit of coughing.
"Lux vs Shyvana on the Proving Grounds,"Gren replied.
Luwin laughed a bit."Inform on how it goes."
"Sure thing,"Gren said, putting a fresh pint of beer onto his desk.
Luwin chugged the beer down. It didn't cure him, but it made the coughing go down, and made him feel slightly better."Thank you,"he said, waving Gren off.
Luwin went back to work, looking through all the files found from the latest check on Du Couteau's body. The body appeared even more contaminated than yesterday.
Elise sniffed the toxins.
"A venom is in here, yes,"she said to Soraka."Not just any venom though. Its only from rare spiders that roam the Shadow Isles. This venom kills any living thing, excluding other spiders, within five days."
"Anything else in it?"Soraka asked.
"Nothing from the Shadow Isles. But this is oddly the same thing that killed General Du couteau, only more hidden, and in less amounts. Its seems to be mixed with something to make it take longer to kill."
"Someone is succeeding in killing Grandmaster Luwin,"Soraka noted.
Elise nodded."And we can't save him. This venom has no anti-venom. And by the time we do make an antivenom, it will be to late."
Soraka cursed."So was have to keep purifing his blood then?"
"No, that only delays the inevitable,"Elise replied."This venom changes the entire blood against you. It becomes part of the blood, and tells the brain to contaminate the body. It is the most effective, most dangerous venom in the world. Thankfuly it is extreamly rare and hard to get."
"Damn,"Soraka said outloud."How will I tell him that he is going to die?"
"You don't,"Elise said, standing up."We tell him of the venom, but don't tell him he is a dead man. Just keep his blood clean, and keep him alive. We at least know this person is in the Institute."
Soraka blinked."What makes you say that?"
"Because,"Elise said, smiling,"the compesition of this nearly nutralizes the venom. In order for this toxin to kill a person, it must constantly enter the body until it effects the brain."
Soraka laughed."We might just be able to save the Grandmaster then?"
Elise shoke her head."Don't forget, by now it would be in his brain. That is why this is happening to him now."
"We need to hurry then. The assassin will probibly hang around until the Grandmaster is dead."
The _ is working great. It is _ with _ _ _. I _ _ able to _ the _ s_ be_re th_ o_rs notice.
Sincerly,
Gren
"This is all we have decoded,"Xerath told LeBlanc."We have made process, but these spells keep us from being able to read the full message."
"This is all then?"LeBlanc asked.
"Almost. Gren is up to something at the least."Ryze streched his acking limbs.
"It dosen't seem like much,"LeBlanc noted
Ryze laughed."Thats what you think. This isn't the real massage. Its one meant to make us think we have it. Once its finished, then begins an easier challenge."
Xerath laughed with him."True."
Kha'zix and Cho'gath sat down, both still eatting a leg of mutton.
They turned to the screen to watch Shyvana and Lux's fight.
"Who do you think will win?"Garen asked Jarvan.
"Shyvana,"he replied.
"Lux,"Katarina stated.
Jarvan snorted."Shyvana has more belife in herself, and an erge to win at any cost. She has the best chances of winning."
"But Lux has a new fire in her eyes, in case you haven't noticed."Katarina laughed."I guess we'll have to wait and see."
Shyvana finished strapping her armor on. she looked in the mirror.
She sighed, and walked out. She was ready for the fight at any time. If she had to guess, she had five minutes until her fight began.
"You look ready,"came the voice of Jarvan.
Shyvana smiled."You know, I never though Lux would challenge some one, not even me."
Jarvan kissed her."You'll win. I know you will."
"I already did win,"she said, hugging him tightly."I don't need anything else besides you."
Jarvan smiled."Fair enough."He kissed her again.
Lux held her staff at trhe ready. Her match would begin any second.
Normally she fought for Demacia. But, today was different. Today she fought for blood.
Vladimir laughed."The Lady Luminocity is out for blood."
"And I will have it,"Lux replied.
"Noxus could use people like you."
"Well, i'm Damacian."
He laughed."True. But still, Shyvana isn't Demacian like you."Vlad laughed again."Well, i'm supporting you in this fight."
"Thanks. But all I want is my revenge. And you can't give me that."
Vlad sneered."If only I could love, you could have won my heart."
Lux laughed."Save the jokes for Shaco. Humor dosen't work for you."
Shyvana stood on her spawn point. She saw minions spawning from the nexus, walking blindly to their deaths.
She followed the minions to battle.
Lux blasted at the minions, destroying all that stood in her way.
Shyvana stood there, a surprised look on her face.
"Your dead,"she growled.
Lux sent a blast of light at Shyvana. Shyvana dodged it, her instinct kicking in.
"What is wrong with you?!"Shyvana shouted.
Lux hit shyvana on the side of the head with her stalf."You know why,"she whispered into her ear.
Lux destroyed Shyvana's head with a blast of light, sending brain matter and blood everywhere.
The body vanished, but the blood still covered Lux. She didn't care. She wanted to win.
"Whats happened to her?"Kat asked.
Garen blinked."The whole time i've known here, this has never happened. Not even in her worst moods."
"She has the resolve of something from the Shadow Isles,"Yorick noted."She is trying to find a way to cling to life. As it is, I think illing Shyvana is what is keeping her together right now."
Katarina blinked."What do you mean?"
"Something must have unblanced her mental state, causeing her to lose her mind,"Yorick explained."Normaly in this styate, the find something to keep them sane and alive. She is showing those signs. I myslef went tyhrough that when I was reborn."
"Same,"Hecarim added."Almost everyone suffers it on the Shadow Isles."
Ryze grunted."This could be bad."
"The Blance is in danger,"She stated, and turned to the door. Something was going to happen.
"Grandmaster?"Gren asked.
Luwin coughed again, making a small bit of blood stain the carpet.
"It feels like my lungs are killing them selves,"Luwin said in cracked voice."No, i'm not doing well."He pushed himself up, only to put a hand over his right side. He screamed in pain.
Gren laughed."My plan finally goes through."
Luwin blinked."You?"he asked, his mouth filling with bits of fresh blood. He had suspected him, but thought he was for peace.
"Yes Grandmaster,"he said with distaste."You were weak. You never saw what the League really was."
Luwin tried to curse him, only to have more blood fill his throat. He coughed it up, along with a lump of bloody tissue. Was that a lung?
"Don't try talking, it only causes the poison to work faster. it also makes your death more painful."
Luwin growled, coughing up blood.
"Now, only one thing is left to do."Gren chanted something.
It was a weak spell, something Luwin could stop easily, if not for his body in its weakened state, Gren would have been killed there.
This was a true showing of Gren's ambition. His reasons for leaving his family, leaving his name, and joining the League as a summoner.
Luwin had been tricked so well. Gren was a prim suspect, but never one you could convict.
Shyvana watched as Lux lead the minions one her Nexus.
Shyvana walked down, and sat next to the Nexus.
"What is this?"Lux demanded.
Shyvana had a blank look on her face."If you want to kill me, kill me."
"Why?"Lux asked.
"You wanted to fight, but I didn't. I only accepted this fight for one reason."
Lux got mad."What?!"
Shyvana laughed."To help my friend!"
Lux readied a spell. But, she saw Shyvana still smiling a bit.
Lux put the Stalf down, and aimed at the Nexus. She fired her blast of light, and let a tear roll down her face.
"Damn you,"she said to Shyvana.
The room, excluding Demacians and Noxians, all erupted into cheering.
"She lost?"Garen asked.
"On purpose,"Jarvan replied."She didn't want to harm Lux, even if it meant people would be mad."
"You know what you need to do then?"Katarina asked.
Jarvan nodded."Aye. And i'm prepaired for what is to come. But, if it helps her get over me, I'll say what needs to be said."
Garen nodded."Yeah."But in his mind, garen was thinking, I'm one to talk about this.
Riven examined the small box one last time. She blushed. Talon was right next to her.
She had to give him the gift. She had to.
Talon looked at her."What is wrong with you toady Riven?"he asked. He raised an eyebrow.
Riven straitened herself."Nothing."
Talon grunted and turned. He had changed dramaticly since they had meet all those years ago.
Riven put the gift in front of him."Take it."
Talon blinked, and took it. He opened it. Inside was a pendant made of iron and silver. it was shaped like a blade.
"What do you think?"she asked.
Talon put it around his neck, and hid it under his garb."Thank you. I will wear it."
"That makes me feel good,"Riven said, blushing."Thank you."
"What are friends for?"he asked. He flashed a slight smile, which was rare.
Riven smiled back.
Lux walked away from the cheering crowd.
"Luxana?"Jarvan asked.
"My lord,"she said, annoyed.
"We need to talk."he walked off, and Lux followed.
After a couple minutes, Jarvan sighed."I know why your mad."
She grunted."Not that hard to figure out. that bitch has crossed-"
"Shyvana didn't cross any line,"Jarva interupted her.
Lux jumped. Despite his calm features, he was still scary, even to his friends.
"Shyvana did nothing wrong,"he said."I'm the one at fault. I fell in love with Shyvana, and I was blind to your love. I never figured it out until it was to late. You had become full of hate, and wanted to best Shyvana."
"Shut up,"Lux said, beggining to cry.
"No,"he replied."Because I didn't make you move on, you began to hate Shyvana, and wanted her to be gone so you could take hr place in my heart. But, she would never allow that. She wated her friend back, but without hurting her more."He looked at her."Am I-?"
She punched him. It took Jarvan by surprise, even though he knew it would come eventualy.
"You idiot!"she shouted, crying."I hate you!"
Jarvan blinked.
"You were blind? You're sorry?! Sorry won't cure my heart! Why did I- I ever fall in love with you?!"She screamed.
"Lux?"Jarvan asked.
Lux cried more."You idiot. Why- why- why couldn't you love me?"
Jarvan suddenly felt a new wave of guilt. What had he done?
Lux sobbed."I should just end it,"she whispered.
Jarvan got mad."Really?!"he yelled."Death dosen't solve it Lux!"
Lux came back to her sences.
"I'm guilty enough as it is, you don't need to make it worse!"Jarvan cried a bit as well."You just need to..."H took in a breath."You need to find someone else."
Lux cried again, blinded with tears. She wiped them away, but to no avail.
Then, some one hleped her up.
Vladimir, the most anti-social person in the League, helped her up, and began tring to calm her down."There, there,"he whispered."You'll be okay."
He helped her off to her room. Once she was layed down in her bed, he walked out.
"You have feelings for her?"Jarvan asked.
"No,"Vlad replied."I just hate seeing that kind of unhappiness, especially from people like her. It reminds me of my past."
Jarvan nodded."Sorry."
"No, you did the right thing there. It was beter to hit you there, get her anger out and be done with it. If it festered for to long, she would end up like me."
"Will you keep an eye one her?"Jarvan asked.
Vlad laughed."No. But ahri will."
Ahri walked out from behind a corner."That obvious?"she asked.
"No,"Vlad replied back."I can smell your blood. It has an exotic quality, which only Nidalee is close too. Yours though is moire like the sea than the jungle."
"Only to you,"Ahri said to him."But i'll keep an eye on her. I heped Shyvana win you over Jarvan. I can help Lux get over you."
"Thank you,"Jarvan said with a bow. He walked off.
Ahri sighed."Its a shame I lost our child. Maybe I would have won him over."
Vlad laughed."Like it or not, the child would only have won the throne if he had no other children. It would have been a bastard child. He would never sit on the throne if Demacia could prevent it."
"Thats not why,"ahri said, rubbing her belly."That child was the first time I truely loved someone. It hurts me to know that I can't have him."
Vlad sighed."You'll get over it."He walked off."Good luck."
"Vladimir,"she said with a laugh."Your one man I wouldn't even bother trying to win over."
Luwin finished writting his will. all it said was that all his belongings would be given over to the Institute of War. As for his title as Grandmaster...
Luwin fell on the ground, and coughed up another lung, and a large amount of blood.
Soraka was checking his blood. It was now completly destroyed. His white blood cells had all died, turing to puss. His red blood cells were decaying and dieing extreamly fast. He had coughed up both lungs and a kidney. His platlett level was almost zero. He had no plasma left. And his body was cdecomposing at a faster rate than normal.
Was this really what was in General Du Couteau's body?
Luwin was dead only five minutes after Soraka checked his blood. She looked at the will on his desk. He had named his heir as Grandmaster.
"What?"she asked herself."He named him as the next Grandmaster?"
The next day, all of Valoran mourned the lose of Grandmaster Luwin. But, as they all knew, the League needed its new leader.
They read Luwins will, saying that all his beloning would be given to the Institute of War to use as they saw fit. But, Luwin had named an heir in his will.
Jerico Swain read it to all of the League."As accordance to the League, i have seen fit as to pass my title to my 'heir.' He has shown he has what is needed for the Institute of War to spread the banner of peace. I name Zero Gren as my heri."
Everyone waas silent as Gren walked up to Swain and the other leaders of Voloran.
Swain, Ashe, Tryndamere, King Jarvan III, and many others all agreed to accept him as Grandmaster of the League.
The cerimony went by fast. Gren took his seat, and went strait to work.
Things were deffenitly not as they should have been.
Shen was most aware of this.
But, despite his best gtuesses, this would lead to something that would destroy the Valoran they knew.
Things were changing. But not for the better.
Well, there you go guys.
Luwin is dead, and Gren has taken the seat as Grandmaster.
In the next chapter, someone has been made the main suspect of the murder of General Du Couteau. But, is he really inocent.
What are Gren's plans? Why did he kill Luwin.
TY for reading and following along. Feel free to leave a reveiw.