A/N: Trying to type with a broken finger on both hands is nothing short of terrible, tedious and slow.
Words of the wise for all of you... Do NOT punch your desk because you're mad at league, trust me, it doesn't help.
Chapter 15: Monster
A strange silence seemed to linger between Irelia and Riven after the Ionian brought up her interest in the stories of the exile's scars. That particular subject was a tender one. A soft and gentle breeze quietly rolled between them, causing the vegetation near the water's edge to sway.
Riven crinkled her nose as the snowy tips of her bangs tickled her face from the dancing wind. The exile brought up her hands and vigorously rubbed her face to rid herself of the lingering itching sensation her hair left behind. Riven tilted her head back as her hands pulled down upon the flesh of her face and sighed deeply, letting her hands fall to her lap. Riven's eyes quietly looked out over the pool of water that the waterfall endlessly poured into.
Irelia's wandering eyes quietly traced along various pale scars that tattooed the tanned flesh. Some were large, others were small, but all of them held a story and more importantly, a lesson. As the Captain looked over the knotted and tight pale flesh, that once yielded an injury; she began to internally guess which one the Noxian would discuss. What surprised Irelia most was the fact that Riven was aware that her scars were exposed since they first saw one another this morning, and yet, Riven didn't seem to hide herself away until she covered up like she usually did. It almost seemed as if Riven wanted Irelia to ask…like it was a subconscious cry for help…an excuse to let herself feel comfort from the listening ear of another without physically asking for it. A slight tug began to pull at Irelia's heart the longer she looked at the beaten body of her once enemy turned comrade. How long had Riven been alone, wandering, constantly tormented and haunted by the faces and voices of her past? How many times had she grown ill from the many sleepless nights in fear of her nightmares? To face the anger of the lives that Noxus…no… that she forever changed. The Ionian frowned, how can I…possibly give her the comfort she needs? There was no doubt that Irelia wanted to help Riven; the real question was how? With every action there will always be a reaction. Becoming a support and care giver was surly going to have its challenges. Irelia's wayfaring thoughts abruptly came to a halt as the Captain snapped back to the present hearing Riven finally speak.
"Now you see the stories of my shame…my guilt," Riven's voice was low and borderline somber in nature, "Like an open book laying before you."
"I'm sure there is more to you than that," Irelia commented, trying to lighten the sinking mood.
Riven shook her head, "Even I was an innocent child once; that lived in her daydreams of becoming the strongest person in all of Noxus. I remember wandering into the upper city to the memorial of a great King slayer as young girl. Of course, the only way from the outer wall without going through the guarded gates into the upper city was through the old catacombs," Riven almost chuckled, "right under the guard's noses." Riven's small smile faded back to a slight frown, "I remember getting into conflicts with one my little brothers…"
"You had brothers?" Irelia interrupted, feeling surprised.
Riven shrugged her shoulders and tilted her head from side to side, "Kinda, sorta. I wasn't blood related to any of them; we were all orphaned or foster children. Our Matron, Madera, was different for a Noxian…she was kind and gentle. Loving;" Just saying the word made the exile's stomach roll uncomfortably. "Of course, I wasn't as much of a stubborn brat as a kid like some of the others," Riven shrugged.
"Like you are now?" Irelia teased.
Riven shot Irelia a slight frown and raised her eyebrows as if her very expression said, really Irelia? So mature.
Irelia chuckled from Riven's reaction, "I'm kidding, relax a little. So you got in a conflict with one of your brothers…" Irelia continued Riven's story.
"Yeah…I did. See, Titus was a loud mouth that always tried to act tough in front of the other boys…"
"Hey, Riven!"
"Hm?" The young girl turned to face the voice that called her name only to find herself being shoved down into the dirt.
"See, I told you she was a weakling!" Titus laughed and so did the other boys.
Riven frowned as they laughed at her, "Titus, you're a big jerk!" She wasn't prepared for that shove at all.
Titus stuck his tongue out at the dirt covered orphan girl, "I am rubber, and you are glue! Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you!"
The boys all laughed along with their foster brother at the childish come back.
"Ha, ha, wanna know why all the other girls have found a home but you?"
Riven yelped when the boy grabbed her long, snow white, hair that was pulled into a pony tail.
"No one wants you 'cause you're a freak! Just look at your weird hair!" Titus harassed his sister as he pulled on her hair.
"Like an old lady!" one of the other boys pitched into their little session of terrorizing their, slightly older, sister.
Growing old and brittle in Noxus was an insult. It was a fate no one wanted; to see themselves lose their strength to old age. That is why many tampered in meddling with Necromancy and the dark arts in order to find a way to keep their youth and preserve their power.
"Stop it! Or I'm telling Matron Madera!" Riven shouted at them. The young girl pressed her hands to her ears in an attempt to block out the teasing and torture. They always picked on her when they had nothing better to do.
A loud whistle went off in the back ground, catching the attention of all the children.
"Come on guys, this is boring…" Titus let go of Riven's hair as the other boys started to leave and return to what they called "home." He looked back down at the girl curled up on the ground, "I wouldn't be surprised if you tattled on us. You're a coward like that," Titus trotted off to catch up with the rest of the boys.
Riven's focus remained distant as she continued to look out over the rippling water of the cove. Her fingers subconsciously touched a very jagged scar that looked large enough to be a stab wound from some form of dagger or short sword. The scar rested along the flesh just outside of the right side of her hardened core of abdominals, just above her hip bone.
"Innocent or not, children are just as monstrous as adults sometimes," Irelia spoke softly. The Captain noticed the scar Riven touched. It looked brutal. She found herself slightly surprised that Riven didn't touch the marred skin of her forearm or the scar on her cheek she was so adamant about hiding. The scar the exile touched looked like one caused from just any typical stab wound.
"You wanted to know which scar yields the most significance…" Riven shook her head, "the story you seek is a little bit about an orphan boy…and a little bit about an orphan girl…but mostly about a monster…"
The tear stained crimson irises quietly followed the shaking edge of the sharp knife that had been stolen from the kitchen. Riven's eyes focused beyond the knife and on her reflection within the mirror.
No one wants you 'cause you're a freak!
Like an old lady!
The shaking crimson stare locked onto the thick platinum pony tail that was hanging over her shoulder. It was gorgeous and her Matron always loved to help her take care of it. I'm not a freak…she told herself.
See! I told you she was a weakling!
"I'm not weak!" Riven screamed at the mirror and grabbed onto her pony tail. The young girl pulled on her hair and brought the knife up to the rubber band that held her hair back. The sharp edge sliced through the alabaster locks with ease as the pony was cut free from her head.
"Riven! What're you doing!?"
The little girl gasped in surprise and dropped the knife. The knife made a thud as it hit the wood floor and Riven turned around to find Matron Madera quickly approaching her.
Madera kicked the knife away and dropped to her knees in front of the little girl. Her hands frantically checked Riven's face, head and body for any signs of injury. The Matron sighed in relief seeing the little girl was unharmed, "Thank goodness, you're alright." Her hands quietly ran over the now short and messy mop of platinum hair that topped the young girl's head, "Oh, Riven… your hair…"
Riven could feel her face growing hot and the burning salty tears welling up in her eyes as Madera looked at her hair.
Madera noticed the tears and an expression of concern took over the soft features of her face, "Oh, sweetheart, what's the matter?"
I wouldn't be surprised if you tattled on us. You're a coward like that.
Riven squeezed her eyes shut, causing the welled tears to fall down her face as she shook her head. Riven opened her eyes back up feeling the gentle hands of her Matron wiping away the hot tears from her cheeks.
"Riven, you know you can tell me anything," Madera said softly as she took out a soft cloth to clean the child's face.
Riven sniffled softly, holding back a slight whimper as she looked at the adjacent pair of soft emerald eyes of Madera. "M-Matron, am I a freak?" Riven choked out a response as she tried to fight back her sobs and grabbing at her own platinum hair.
"What? Heavens no…" Madera frowned sadly and soothed the child, "Shhh, Riven, look at me."
The young girl quietly looked at the woman who was the closest thing to a mother she ever had.
"Do you want to know what I see?"
Riven wiped her nose with her sleeve and nodded.
"Well, first of all, I don't see a freak," Madera smiled and tickled the little girl.
Riven giggled and smiled through her tears as her Matron tickled her sides. She sputtered as she tried to hold back her growing laughter.
"I see a strong little girl who is going to grow up and be someone great one day," Madera smiled as she ran her hands through the mess of short white locks upon Riven's head. The Matron wiped away the last of the tears from the child's face, "and she is too beautiful to have a face stained with tears."
"Like, the Grand General great?" Riven sniffed.
Madera smiled, "You can be anything you want if you put your mind to it and believe in yourself. You know who the Grand General is right now, don't you?"
"Grand General Boram Darkwill," Riven smiled shyly at Madera.
"That's right," Madera nodded.
"He's not very big though," Riven crossed her arms and huffed her chest, "I thought the strongest one in Noxus is supposed to be bigger than everyone else."
Her Matron chuckled at the typical view of the world from a child's stand point, "No, you're right, he isn't a very large man in comparison to others, but, do you want to know why he's still the Grand General, even if he's a little smaller?"
"How?" Riven asked eagerly.
"Because he knows he is the strongest, believes that he is the strongest, believes in the ideals of Noxus, and doesn't let anyone else tell him otherwise," Madera smiled at the shine in the crimson irises of the young girl. "Do you know what they call this type of strength, Riven?"
Riven shook her head hard enough to cause the short mop of hair on her head to fluff back up again.
Madera chuckled and ran her hands over the child's hair to try and tame it once more, "Conviction, Riven, it is called Conviction, and it is the single greatest power one could ever hope to have because it reaches beyond the physical realm of strength and the human spirit is a very powerful thing. So don't lose it."
"Conviction?" Riven tilted her head off to the side.
Madera nodded towards the child, "Yes, and I think you have it; you just don't know it yet."
Riven wrapped her arms tightly around her Matron's neck and hugged her, "I'm sorry I cut my hair and scared you, Matron." Riven's words were muffled against Madera's shoulder. "I know you liked to brush it, I'm sorry! The other's think I'm weird cause it's white!"
Madera smiled and hugged Riven close, "Don't be sorry, Riven, they tease you because you're a little different is all. People fear what they don't understand, but you know what? I would rather you be different, than be a carbon copy of everyone else."
The child pulled back from the hug and looked at her Matron, "really?"
Madera scruffed Riven's hair with her hand, "really," she smiled. "You know, Riven, I like the short hair. It's cute."
Riven puffed her cheeks, "I don't wanna be cute! I wanna be tough!"
Madera laughed and kissed Riven's forehead, "you can be both. Now, let's trim your hair a bit so it looks less like a hack job, shall we?"
Irelia quietly watched the breeze blow through the fluffed locks of Riven's hair. The exile looked distant, her fingers still sliding along the jagged edges of the scar. Irelia began to wonder if Riven was going to be alright if she continued to speak, "Riven, you don't have to continue…"
"Be patient with me," Riven growled slightly. Riven never looked at Irelia as she began to calm back down, "Just… listen…please."
The Captain nodded, a slight look of concern upon her face as she spoke, "Alright…I'm listening."
"I met him once… when I was fourteen years old…"
"Who?" Irelia asks, trying to make sure that Riven knew she was still listening.
"The Grand General… I remember I was just sitting alone on the sidewalk out in front of the orphanage…"
Riven quietly sat by herself watching people pass like she always did. She was never really invited to play with the others since to them she was weird, so instead she would sit there and people watch. Today, however, was different. There seemed to be more people and guards than usual. Someone must be visiting, Riven thought as she watched people walk by. Riven narrowed her eyes hearing footsteps approaching her from the side. I swear if Titus picks on me…Riven's expression was grumpy.
"Hey, kid!" a young voice called down at her.
Riven blinked and turned her head up to look at the person who was standing next to her. Riven squeezed her eyes shut as she looked into the sun. She shook her head and brought her hand up to block out the light, in hopes of being able to see the identity of the person addressing her.
"Don't blind yourself, idiot." The young girl, who looked no older than she, crossed her arms and looked down at Riven.
Confusion crept across Riven's face as she looked at the mystery girl; she had never seen her before. "Do I know you?"
"Obviously not if you're asking that question," the girl frowned, "you're not very bright are you?"
Riven frowned.
The girl was dressed too well to be someone from these parts of Noxus. Her long fire-red hair was pulled back into a braid. Soft freckles littered her cheeks and her eyes were a bright aqua-marine. "I'm bored and you look bored, want to do something?"
Riven blinked, feeling dumbfounded as she pointed at herself. Someone actually ASKED her to partake in an activity?
The girl rolled her eyes and semi-slapped her palm against her forehead, "No...I'm talking to the dirt under your ass…Of course, I'm talking to you…what are you dumb?"
"What are we going to do?" Riven asked, trying to block out the verbal jabs.
"Wow, you can talk," the red-head raised her brows as if she was actually surprised, "I don't know, my dad is out here on business or whatever and it's so BORING," she sighed. "What do you outer wall kids do for fun anyways?"
Outer wall kids?Riven's suspicion was correct about this girl, she was from the upper city and judging by her cloths, she was nobility. Riven shrugged her shoulders.
"Well you're no help…" the red-head looked around, "want to like…explore or something?" She asked.
"I-I guess?" Riven stammered.
"Cool, let's go then..." the girl said as she walked passed Riven.
"H-Hey! Wait up!" Riven got up and dusted off her clothes.
"Hurry up, slow poke!"
Riven quietly walked next to the noble girl as red-head continued to look around at the aging buildings of the outer city. The grim, poorly managed and run down architecture certainly reflected within the tired and worn down looks of the people inhabiting the streets of this part of the city. Riven started to feel uncomfortable for the noble girl, who seemed to show no signs of caring, as Riven began to notice some of the looks they were receiving. This was not safe. They were being followed.
Soon, Riven and the noble turned around the corner and Riven grabbed the girl, covered her protesting mouth, and forced them both to go down an alleyway. "Ow!" Riven yelped, feeling teeth clamp down on her hand. Riven pulled her hand away and cradled it.
"What the hell is your problem!? How dare you grab me like that!"
"Shhh! Shhh!" Riven kept looking over her shoulder as she tried to get the noble girl to quiet down.
"Don't you shush me!" the noble yelled, shoving Riven back.
Riven stumbled back and toppled to the ground as her foot caught the corner of a crate. Riven looked up from the ground and saw the dark figures near the mouth of the alley. She quickly got up and grabbed back onto the girl, who in return, continued to fight against her. "No disrespect intended, noble girl, but would you, please, shut the hell up!?" Riven shouted into the girl's face.
The noble's pissed off glare quickly faded as she finally noticed the encroaching figures behind Riven.
Believe that you are stronger than everyone else.
Riven took a deep breath and turned, placing herself defensively between the noble girl and the people approaching them.
"Are you crazy!? You're going to get us both killed!" the noble yelled at Riven from behind.
"They want you alive because you're worth money… and we aren't going to fight," Riven said firmly, trying to fight back her own fear.
"Then what are we going to do then, huh!? No thanks to you, we are now cornered. Good job, idiot."
Riven narrowed her eyes and quickly started to climb up the stacked boxes nearby.
"Oh yeah, climbing up high will work out real well, won't it?" the red-head barked sarcastically at Riven as she watched her climb. The noble turned her head and saw that the men were close, a look of horror taking over her face. "H-Hurry up!"
Riven tried to balance as she stood up onto the boxes. The ground were they stood was hallow, Riven felt it when they walked onto it.
"H-Hey! What's your name?" The noble called up to Riven, "I want to know it before you die."
Believe in yourself.
Conviction is the greatest power one could ever hope to have.
Something sparked deep within Riven and the fear she once felt seemed to melt away as she looked down at the terrified red-head. "My name is Riven, and today, neither of us is going to die." Riven jumped off of the boxes and landed on the ground where she once stood in front of the noble girl.
"That's it?"
Riven kept her eyes closed as she drown out the red-head's heated ranting and listened closely to the ambient noise.
Crack.
"By the Gods, you really are an idi-
The ground gave way.
"-OT!" The girl screamed as both her and Riven fell through the ground into the pitch black darkness.
Riven coughed through the stirred up dust and quietly rubbed her head as she opened her eyes. Ow… she thought as she looked around the torch lit cavern. A soft groan echoed in the chamber and Riven's attention snapped back to the weight lying on top of her stomach and legs.
"Thanks for breaking my fall, idiot," the red-head teased with a soft chuckle, "Close call."
"I'd say, I'm feeling more like a numb skull after doing that," Riven gave a soft smile while rubbing the lump on her head.
"Its intelligent with a sense of humor, who knew?" the noble shrugged as she got up from lying on top of her, "exploration partner."
Riven's expression faded to annoyance, "I'm not an 'it.'"
"My bad, he, has a sense of humor. Happy now?" the red-head sarcastically corrected.
"I just so happen to be a girl, thank you very much," Riven retorted.
The noble looked back at Riven, "What's with the hair cut?" she sputtered, trying to hold back a laugh.
Riven frowned. "How could you not tell from my voice?"
"Pfft, a lot of boys around our age sound like girls, my bad," the noble laughed. "Besides, your clothes are really baggy, so it's not like I could tell anyways. All jokes aside, where are we?"
Riven looked around at the torch lit cavern, "some kind of chamber…"
"Oh, that's just great. You live out here; surely you know where we are! Come on, numb skull!"
Riven grabbed one of the torches from its holder on the wall and held it out towards the opening leading out of the chamber, "I have a name…"
The red-head yawned, "Oh yeah, didn't it start with an R? What was it again…? Agh, hell if I know," the noble peeked at the way the platinum messy locks sat upon her companion's head. The back was particularly wild as if it grew every which way and wouldn't comb straight even if someone tried to brush it. The young noble chuckled at the tuft of hair that liked to stand up, "Jeez, your hair is a mess," she stammered, trying to hold back a laugh, "especially here." The red-head reached out and touched the patch of wild hair near the top of the crown of Riven's head, "it's a cowlick," she laughed, "I'm gonna call you cowlick!"
"It's Riven…" Riven responded as she brought up her hand to hold down the tuft of platinum from standing. Of course, once Riven moved her hand away it flipped back up again.
"Details, details," she waved her hand back and forth. Both the noble and Riven jumped slightly as a large rat scurried past their feet, "get me out of here!"
"You're the one that wanted to explore," Riven sighed once the shiver of fear finished its run up her spine and she shook her head. This certainly wasn't going to be easy; they were horribly lost and worst of all, it was under the city.
It felt like ages as they walked through the tight halls of the cavern, even though in all reality it had only been about an hour. Riven could feel the noble girl on her heels, "So… you know my name, what is yours?" Riven asked, making the girl jump slightly from the broken silence.
"W-Why do you want to know?" she stammered looking around at the walls of the cavern.
Riven paused and turned around to face her, "Are you scared?"
The once cautious expression upon the noble's face quickly changed into one of fake confidence when Riven looked at her, "Me? Scared? No way, I laugh in the face of fear!" she closed her eyes and turned her head, "W-Why? Are you?" she peeked back at Riven through one eye.
Riven shrugged, "Yeah, a little." Riven wasn't afraid to speak the truth. Madera always taught them that the truth was always a better option than to hide a lie, no matter how small.
"Yeah…okay…I'm a little scared to," the red-head finally admitted with a sigh; Riven's honesty seemed to rub off on her, "B-But not of the dark! Just of my dad when he finds out I wandered off…"
Riven could see through the lie, but she wasn't going to comment on it. "Would you like to hold the torch?" Riven asked calmly toward her new…friend? Maybe she would feel more comfortable being in control of the light source.
The red-head quietly looked at the torch for a moment then nodded.
Riven smiled and handed it to her. "At least you're not alone down here?"
The noble nodded, "Thanks…Riven."
Riven continued to smile, "Sure…now let's get out of this place, it's really starting to creep me out…" Riven continued to follow the noble girl close as they continued to walk down what seemed to be an endless dark tunnel. Though the young noble was somewhat rude and slightly bitchy, it seemed that she had softened up a bit. The young red-head probably wasn't much of a people person until she warmed up to them. Riven paused slightly as the red-head spoke up.
"Katarina…"
"Hm?" Riven blinked.
"My name is Katarina," she repeated one last time, trying not to sound annoyed that she had to repeat herself in the first place.
"It's nice to meet you," Riven replied, "You have a nice name."
"Thanks…I guess," Katarina shrugged her shoulders and held the torch forward. "Y-Yours is cool to…" The young noble gasped, seeing a pale light up ahead, "Light!"
Riven looked past Katarina and smiled in excitement, it seems like they were going to make it out of that cavern…after…all…
"You've got to be kidding me!" Katarina cried out as they found themselves in nothing but a huge cylinder shaped chamber. Her voice echoed for what felt like minutes as her words continued to bounce off the walls. The noble continued to grovel under her breath as she stood in the middle of the chamber, cursing that they were still lost in this underground labyrinth. "Where did the light go!? It was just here, ugh!"
Riven quietly walked over to the large rectangular holes that were carved into the walls of the room. There seemed to be hundreds of these spaces in the stone walls that went up as far as their torchlight could reach. Riven jolted, realizing what they were standing in, "K-Kata…" Riven stammered as she slowly backed away from the wall, "we need to leave…"
"Why? What did you find," Katarina turned and held the torch out towards her retreating partner.
"Th-This isn't the underground…it's the catacombs…" Riven turned to look at Katarina, "and those bodies haven't been here long…" Riven was shaking, which was starting to cause the noble to shake; they were surrounded by death.
"Y-You don't think it's real do you?" Katarina asked, voice shaking slightly.
"Th-Think what is real?"
"The Draugr…"
Riven swallowed, "Th-That's just a story to keep kids in bed at night!"
"They say that when it's not collecting the dead, it comes out to snatch up people that are where they shouldn't be," Katarina swallowed to as she turned to let the light from the torch reveal their surroundings.
"Stop it, Katarina, this isn't funny!" Riven shouted.
"I'm not trying to be funny! I'm serious!" Katarina shouted back into Riven's face. The noble's gaze focused on a stair case as the light moved over it. "There! Let's get out of here!"
Riven quickly followed as they both ran up the staircase as fast as they could possibly do so without tripping over one another. The staircase seemed to go on forever until they made it into a very large room.
"What is this place?" Katarina whispered as they walked up the stairs.
The light was dim from the sun beams that barely made it through the cracks of the ceiling; this chamber was man made, and it had been sealed away.
Riven narrowed her eyes and saw a structure above them, "Is that a bridge?"
Katarina smiled, "that must be the way out of here! Come on!" she exclaimed and started to run up the stairs once more.
The young Noxians finally made it to the top of, what to them, seemed like an endless staircase that exited an endless network of catacomb tunnels and an adventure they both certainly didn't expect. Both of their faces faded to disbelief seeing the large, locked, door blocking them from the bridge across the crevice they just escaped.
Riven's hands gripped the large iron ring that acted as the door's handle and pulled on it, "Rats…it's locked up good."
"Stand back," Katarina sighed, shoving the touch back into Riven's hands and pulling out the pin from the base of her braid. The tip of Katarina's tongue stuck out from between her lips and she jammed the pin into the key hole and focused on picking the lock.
Click.
"Ah, ha! Success," Katarina smirked and she pulled the door open.
"Well, that's an interesting skill for someone with your stature to have…" Riven looked surprised. "I usually expect lock picking to be a thief's trade not a noble's."
"You never know what skills you might need as an assassin someday," Katarina shrugged, tucking the hair pin into her pocket.
"Wait, you want to be an assassin?" Riven blinked, "Who actually chooses to do that? You know, to kill people as a career? "
Katarina scoffed, "There are bad people in the world that need to be removed. Someone's gotta do it. Besides, I want to be like my dad anyways, and I'm gonna be the best one! That sissy girl stuff is my sister's thing."
"Fair enough…" Riven turned to look at their surroundings as they walked across the bridge. "What is this place?" she asked as she looked at the huge statue of a man wielding a large double edged battle axe. The dimmed light gave the large chamber an eerie feeling as Riven followed Katarina and looking at the details of the statue.
The base of the statue started at what seemed to be the cutoff point of the stone man's hips and only his upper body was carved. A large and single pauldron covered the figure's left shoulder and the carved patterns to represent the folds of a cloak pulled over the right. The man's jaw was strong and a single short pony tail rest upon his head. The arms were chiseled to muscular perfection; the statue truly captured the embodiment of strength and power.
"It's a memorial," Katarina finally answered Riven's question as the red-head discovered a plaque.
"For who?" Riven asked curiously, still looking up at the statue.
"I don't know, come read the plaque," Katarina sighed, seeming uninterested in a history lesson and taking the touch back from less privileged Noxian accompanying her.
Riven quietly walked over to the plaque and looked it over as Kat held the torchlight so she could read. "It's dedicated to a fallen General."
Both the girl's heads snapped up as the large iron door they had been walking toward swung open.
"I have a feeling…that we aren't supposed to be here…" Riven whispered towards Katarina as a figure began to walk towards them from the light of the door.
"Well, well, well, it seems we have a couple lost young ones," the man's voice was deep and smooth. The sound of his sabatons clanked against the stone that crafted the bridge with every footfall.
"I know that voice…" Katarina whispered back.
The figure drew closer and closer to the two adolescent Noxians, who in return stayed put.
"Well, if it isn't little Katarina Du Couteau. Your father will be very displeased to know that his daughter is snooping around places she shouldn't be," the man said, looking down at the young daughter of one of his Generals. Another armored figured began to approach the two girls when the man flicked his wrist. "Guard Valdus, see to it that little Ms. Du Couteau is taken home."
"Come 'ere," Valdus said sharply and grabbed the young noble's wrist tightly and pulled the protesting girl away.
"Unhand me!" Katarina shouted and tried to pull away from the large armored guard but her efforts proving futile.
"As for this one," the man's cold gaze turned back forward at Riven, "we all know the Noxian Laws of Trespassing into areas that the Grand General has deemed off limits." The last two words of his statement were growled as he spoke loud enough for all the present beings to hear over Katarina being defiant towards the guard still managing to drag her away.
"What? No!" Katarina yelled, trying desperately hard to slip free from Valdus' grip. "Grand General, please! Show mercy!"
Grand General...? Riven's frame was shaking as she looked up at the armored man standing before her. This man looked far too young to be the Grand General Darkwill, who had ruled Noxus for many generations.
Valdus grew tired of Katarina and yanked her back. Strong arms wrapped the noble's small body from behind into a bear hug and hoisted the girl kicking girl from the floor.
"Riven, run! Run away!" Katarina screamed, "RUN AWAY, YOU IDIOT!"
Fear began to seep into Riven's very bones, only further causing her to shake in the Grand General's presence. She wanted to listen to Katarina and run back to the Catacombs, but where would she go? Running into the endless darkness of the halls of the dead would solve nothing, and she would likely join them if she had become lost.
The closing of the large iron door echoed off the chamber walls for what felt like an eternity. The tension in the air between the Grand General and the little trespasser was thick enough to be cut by a blade.
Riven wanted to step back. She desperately wanted to step away...to run for her life.
See! I told you she was a weakling!
What a freak!
Crack.
The pain in her jaw was agonizing as she stumbled back and fell to the floor. Had she just been struck? Dazed and dizzy, Riven tried to assess what just happened. She could hear them, the metal sabatons, approaching where she had fallen onto to cold surface of the stone bridge. Riven could feel the blazing sensation prickle at the flesh where she had been hit, bruising was imminent. A bitter, coppery, taste filled her mouth as she tried to get up.
Blood from the gash in her lip and mouth streaked in a trial across the bridge as she slid further away from the door. What little air was left in her lungs from the shock of the first blow to her face was lost when she had been kicked back in her mid section. Luckily, nothing seemed to break.
No one wants you.
Clank. Clank. Clank.
You're a coward.
Riven, run! Run away! RUN AWAY, YOU IDIOT!
No more...
Crack. White knuckles struck the floor, acting like an anchor as the beaten girl started to stand. I...will...not... run from this, Riven managed to stand, not only tall, but straight.
The clanking of the approaching boots of the man proclaimed to be Boram Darkwill stopped. The cold relentless glare of the Grand General's steely eyes attempted to cut deep into the young girl standing before him and intimidate her to break. To submit.
She would not.
His eyes softened, realizing the burning crimson staring him back in the face would refuse to give into the weakness of submission. He had seen that look before; to stand defiant in the face of encroaching death, bloodied and beaten, but not broken. He straightened up, "Tell me, girl, do you know where we are?"
Blood continued to leak from the split lip and soak into the fair haired Noxian's shirt. Her teeth and gums stained with crimson life; It splattered as she spoke, "a memorial."
"For who?"
"The Decimater of Demacia. The Great Slayer of Kings. A man who laughed in the face of death and bathed in the blood of his enemies. He lived in the grandeur of battle and embodied the glory that is Noxus and strength-
"A true Son of Noxus," the Grand General finished the young girl's statement, which she had remembered from reading the plaque. "How old are you? Child," he asked coldly.
"Fourteen," Riven replied readily, holding back any signs of hesitation in Darkwill's presence. It could mean life or death; that was the law of disobeying the Grand General, after all.
Darkwill's armored fingers quietly rubbed the dark beard lining his sturdy jawline. The single black pauldon upon his shoulder shifted as he lowered his arm away from his face in his silent contemplation. He continued to watch the young Noxian standing before him intently. "You are becoming of age," the Grand General said. There was another point of silence before Darkwill made his verdict, "Listen to me, young one, I will pardon you of this trespassing and over look the penalty of it."
A look of surprise started to creep across Riven's face even if she was trying to suppress it from showing. How many times in the History of Noxus had the Grand General pardoned someone of a crime that, when convicted, resulted in public execution? Why...Why would he pardon her? Why would he pardon this child of the outer wall...where the people were worn and weak by reputation? That is why they were locked away from the upper city after all; a reminder of the separation of power.
The Grand General unlatched a silver and gold laced badge from the black fabric draped over his strong shoulders. He held the seal out towards the girl standing before him, "I assume you know of the Military Academy, right?"
Riven nodded.
"Upon your fifteenth birthday, you will use this mark of the Grand General to gain admittance into the Academy." Darkwill handed Riven the seal from his cloak.
The Noxus Military Academy was a place only the most promising of Noxus' youth were allowed to attend. It was by recruitment only. Though every denizen of Noxus had to be enlisted into Military service and were on active reserve in war time, the Academy is what produced officer's to lead said denizens and the Noxian elite. Despite its purpose, not every student of the Academy would become Military officials.
"That is the trade off for my pardon. You WILL serve Noxus with the life that you now OWE me for letting you walk today, and remember, child, Noxus has her ways of disposing of the weak," the Grand General's tone was serious. He would know if Riven ran from her contract and didn't show up at the Academy. "Now, leave this place. There is another guard posted outside the door, he will escort you back home," Darkwill commanded.
Riven stood there for a couple seconds longer, still half in shock that she's been reprieved. Once her brain processed that she was dismissed she quietly walked past the Grand General and towards the door where her escort home was still posted. Her knuckles were white from gripping the seal.
Darkwill turned and watched the young Noxian leave. He turned back and looked at the statue of one of the greatest Generals to ever have served in his High Command once Riven was gone and the door was closed. "I need not ask her the name she was given; I will learn it soon enough. I've seen eyes like those once before. It seems that Noxus has found her daughter," Boram looked up at the eyes of Noxus' fallen son, "Do you agree, General?"
Riven still looked sick to her stomach as she sat there in front of Irelia, who still looked worried for her companion. Shoulders shaking Riven tried to gain control over the rolling nausea within her gut and remain relatively collected and together. She could feel it, the trigger, in the back of her mind as she sat there exposing her upbringing. Why to Irelia? Why the truth? She could have lied. Was it because of the morals Madera had taught her as a mere child? To feel the hypocrisy of being one that came to the Institute of War with a belief that it may help her find the truth behind the betrayal and the deaths of her soldiers and then lying? Or was it something more?
Thank you for trusting me, Riven.
Lux's words echoed in her mind. Trust... Riven thought as her worn eyes shifted to Irelia.
"Please, stop," Irelia said softly and gripped Riven's shaking shoulder. "I don't want to hear anymore if it is hurting you to speak." The Ionian could see Riven fighting to hold the trigger back, "It was a mistake for me to ask."
"These hands of mine were-
"Stop!" Irelia interjected, "No more." The Will of the Blade's were now grabbing both of Riven's shoulders. She could feel the vibrations from the Noxian warrior's shaking frame.
Riven's crimson eyes narrowed aggressively and her fingers wrapped around the slender wrists of the woman that wanted the truth behind her scar with an iron grip. "Let me speak, Irelia," Riven growled. This really had nothing to do with Irelia, but everything to do with Riven wanting to play Russian Roulette with her condition. How far could she push it before it goes off? She knew there was no "cure" for this. There was nothing the Ionians can do to "fix" her, so she will learn her limits, and Irelia is just going to have to sit there and watch her toy with her triggers.
Irelia tried to pull her wrists away. She frowned, "I don't want to hear anymore, Riven. Release my hands."
"That's just too damn bad. You're gonna sit there and listen. Stop trying to play protector because it isn't going to work," Riven's tone was cold.
"I'm done with this conversation!" The Captain snapped.
"I NEED THIS!" Riven roared. She released Irelia's wrists and instead took fist fulls of the Ionian silk of the Captain's attired and yanked Irelia forward. Their faces suspended only inches apart as Riven's burning glare cut deep into the shocked adjacent pools of soft jade.
The blades of Irelia's weapon had subconsciously reacted to the threat towards its master. They quivered in strain as they were held back from putting a lethal strike into the Noxian. Irelia could feel Riven's breath warming her lips as she continued to hold back her weapon.
Control it... Riven scolded herself mentally as she released Irelia and sat back up straight. "Please, just listen."