Chapter 26: The Summoners will hate me for what has been done.

The trade convoy continued on its way to Yamanoryu, yet the landscape's scene almost stayed constant with the thick forest canopy blotting out almost all light, save for a few glimmers through the vast quantities of bamboo leaves. Xerath was told that the road ahead was not long, barely even two days of travel. That was good. Xerath wanted to look around in Yamanoryu for the purpose of personal interest. Ionian culture was indeed a very interesting one, the South being united in purpose as the Noxian Invasion had targeted the high commerce and accessible region as the stepping stones than the small and rough terrain of the North where their immense military force could fight on even ground than have to focus on clearing every mountain range for enemy forces. Meanwhile, the Far North still was loosely separated into clan warfare on petty rivalries and the rest of the North was populated with bandits in every known kilometer of land.

Not that a bunch of mere bandits could stand against Ahri and I.

The League was more than just honing the skills you started with.

It granted insight into the thoughts of others and thus the ability to predict key movements among sane opponents. All champions were taught the basic principles of all manner of weaponry, from swords and axes to bows and rifles. Even the basics of hand-to-hand combat were taught to aid in reducing damage from martial art practitioners. Xerath had faced enough fights against the monk Lee Sin to know that the knowledge only reduced damage, not granting immunity.

But the knowledge was enough to break free from melee and give distance to mages who preferred longer ranged engagements. That had saved him multiple times on the Rift from would-be assassins, to then cast them down in his devastating barrages.

Ahri was casually propped up against the side of the wagon opposite of him.

She seemed to be incredibly bored in his eyes, staring up into the tree canopy with no thoughts swimming through her mind.

"You alright?" Xerath asked, trying to get some form of conversation going to draw her mind into the present.

"Yeah, just thinking. There hasn't been much to do recently, so I've resorted to thinking."

"Uncommon for you. You usually are the star of your little friend group."

"Well that's because most of them will laugh at anything even remotely funny for half an hour and talk about small things. I prefer the grander jokes that not just anyone can make up and take just slightly more time to… perfect. Can't always make good jokes around people especially when you are the only one to have read Ionian comics and make indirect references to them. It really is hard sometimes being a comedian."

"References? And I thought you were good enough to come up with all of those in your head."

"Like I said, they have very basic senses of humor. Takes them about a minute to get just one of my 'decent' jokes, to which one of them cries out what I mean. After that, they all just laugh out loud because the guy said it in a more humorous tone."

"That f**king Ezreal really pisses me off sometimes." Ahri whispered, commenting on the Explorer's lack of humorous content while ripping off her own.

"At least yours have been better than Diana's. How that woman does it is beyond me."

"With you, it is slightly different because you understand subtle nuances and such, but with them, some of them can't even figure out a simple word play. Caitlyn especially. She can barely make a joke and the way she laughs so hard after she gets one is almost surreal." Ahri continued.

Ahri sighed and regained her composure.

"This journey with you has actually been pretty fun to be honest."

"I agree with you. It has been a long time since I have been able to talk like we do now, making poor and heavily contextual jokes that few else would laugh at."

"You did this sort of thing with Tabia?"

"Indeed so. The two of us could banter on for hours in the academy when there was nothing else to do. Those times were incredibly fun."

"Do I really seem like Tabia to you?"

"You have several traits that remind me of her. You act immature and mischievous, yet surprisingly mature and thoughtful of others when it comes down to hard times."

"Thanks, I guess. Some women might think that pretty pathetic of you though."

"How so?"

"Well… It just sounds like you haven't gotten over the past and stuff. You look for a woman with similar qualities to your oldest friend and you have found no one else as being that attractive unless she has those attributes."

"I am not the ordinary case. What happened to Tabia in the end could well have been traumatic to have your friend die so easily from something that you should have been able to control."

"But I still find it kind of cute."

…

What.

…

"You are calling the being who turned the world order on its head, cute?"

"I consider the behavior cute, not you per se. You do, however, understand my past and my jabs of humor at you. It's been a fun thing to be able to do this sort of thing on an excessively long mission. It's better than just keeping to yourself while your partner just stares at your body like a teenager who just found out that people actually make dirty novels like the Lusty Dragon Maid. Seriously, that sh*t exists and it is weird as hell."

"I am glad to know you find me… entertaining at least. That last bit though, I would rather not have heard that."

"Deal with it. There is some weird stuff out there that only Ionian shops sell. You do not want to see what sort of things some people make up. Found some stuff of me and tentacles." Ahri shivered from the very thought of that horrible comic she had found.

In the distance, there was a strange crack of snapping bamboo.

"You hear that?" Ahri immediately picking up on the sound, her fox ears scanning to pinpoint where it came from.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, the snapping grew fierce, as if something large knew that it's stealth was busted. And the noise was only getting closer.

It was heading straight for the convoy!

"Xerath, get out of the cart now!" Ahri cried, swiftly exiting the cart and clearing her way out.

Xerath vaulted over the side of the cart, only to be swept of his feet by some immense force as he heard the crack of the wooden cart and the scream of its passengers who were too slow to realize the danger they were in.

He fell hard on the ground, completely stunned by the impact.

Ahri had managed to clear out of the beast's way just in time.

A massive serpentine reptile, camouflaged in the underbrush by a thick, scaly emerald hide. A massive neck held its foreboding square head in place, two long horns protruding from the back of its head. It's massive legs stuck out from it's sides, all four of them ending with massive taloned claws.

This thing was an Ionian Forest Drake, one of the most potent hunters that Ionia harbored in its borders and could easily compete for one of the most efficient predators in the entirety of Valoran.

And it's got us in its sights.

Sh*t.

The convoy guards quickly formed up on the drake with spears in hand.

The drake recoiled as the metal barbs blocked its path, only to quickly find a way around such a defense.

In the blink of an eye, the drake spun around to cleave the guards with its monstrous tail, sending all of them flying. It quickly turned its head quizzically at the rest of the quivering merchants before crying a roar of excitement at helpless prey. The drake surged towards another cart and sent the contents flying, snatching food in its reptilian jaws before swallowing it whole. That which it could not eat whole was ripped apart by its talons and subsequently devoured.

A blast of arcane fire wracked against its flank, causing the beast to cry out in agony.

It swooped its head around to see who had dared attack it while it was eating.

It was Ahri, who had just done something really stupid.

Get its attention.

"Hey sh*thead! I'm over here! Come get me!" Ahri cried, trying to save the scurrying merchants.

A brave thought, but bravery could well be mistaken for stupidity.

The drake charged at her.

In a burst of dazzling light, Ahri propelled herself out of its rampage while sending a fusillade of cerulean fire against its flank.

The drake barreled over as its side burned from the immense flurry of arcane flame. It roared for a moment, yet once it inspected the minimal damage, it quickly righted itself and sized up Ahri.

It was actually thinking!

F**k this drake!

It's probably found out a way to get me.

The drake suggested some recollection of courage. It reared its head high, acting as if something was coming up from its throat.

A breath attack?

F**K!

Ahri cleared its intended firing arc in another blazing dazzle of light, once again firing off a fusillade of projectiles at the drake.

The drake swooped across the ground lithely, still holding it's mouth shut with smoke spiraling from under a small gap in its lip. The fusillade of magic glanced off its armored scales while it brought its massive tail around to strike out at Ahri.

Ahri saw it coming, yet she knew that her momentum could not be stopped. Gathering energy, she projected a protective barrier in front of her.

The tail smashed against the shield in a crackle of magic, sending her flying directly into the bamboo forest.

Ahri quickly directed the shield's power to prevent her back from cracking across the bamboo shafts. The strike from the drake's tail had damaged her, yet she continued on. She needed to, lest be killed by this monster in such a brutish manner.

But that thing had just set something up.

The drake leveled its head directly at her, throat warped by the concoction that brewed inside it.

F**k.

A thick mist of poison flooded the air around her.

Xerath managed to get a glimpse of Ahri being propelled into the forest, shortly followed by the beast's breath attack. He quickly righted himself to try in hopes of eliminating the creature.

The beast's experience with this magician had tired it. It just wanted to feast. Enough with these humans with their metal and magic.

The monster quickly swooping its head around to the fleeing humans, launching its breath attack once more.

Men and women stopped in their tracks, choking on the thick green mist. Staggering for a brief moment, every one of them fell to the ground with no signs of further movement.

Xerath was ready for the beast, charging his own power. He needed to eliminate the thing before it could do any more damage.

Bringing forth immense energy from his inner being, he began channeling his spell.

The beast felt the magical signature, a similar energy to what that other human had called forth. But now this one was significantly stronger. This one was dangerous.

Triangulating the magic, it found the bearer of such energies.

It was staring directly at it with that bottomless pyre of its eyes.

It seemed, angry.

It mattered not.

The drake needed to remove the threat before it could unleash its powers.

It will feast well this day.

The beast surged towards Xerath, mouth open to completely swallow him whole.

"COME MEET YOUR DOOM, BEAST!" he cried, unleashing a cacophonous burst of energy that burnt the very air itself.

The pulse met the beast head on, rapidly obliterating the beast's scales and annihilating its innards. The beast reared at the immense pain flooding through its system. The massive lance of energy spit and crackled in a myriad of colors across the beast's body.

Xerath continued to fuel the furnace that raged inside the creature, only stopping once the beast's torso had been charred black and the beast squirmed no more.

He had burned a large hole into the beast's stomach, the cauterized wound completely sealed.

Even still, only the scales that had faced the brunt of his lance had been pierced. The rest of the creature was still intact, apart from the blackened insides that were still hot from his onslaught.

His lance had not even managed to pierce the other side of the beast.

Whatever this thing was, its hide was ridiculously resistant to flame. Was it capable of even taking down dragons?

Wait.

"AHRI!" Xerath cried, desperately trying to find out where his partner was.

Xerath searched through the debris where Ahri had been sent flying. The green mist was still present, sending a small stinging pain through him.

There was no way that this could affect my being surely?

But it was.

Is this fog reactive to magic?

The fog had also burned the grass as well.

A strong acid as well?

Perhaps it is a two, perhaps even three part poison.

The actual poison itself could stagger the foes with a drugging effect. The secondary acidic conditions could also act as a catalyst or reactive agent against biological tissue and reactive metals. The final part might then react with magic to weaken even the strongest magician.

That creature is by far the most dangerous creature I have ever come across by a significant margin.

It had intelligence, size, sharp and powerful claws, incredible speed, a hide that could ward off any magic weaker than an arch-mage spell and a poison that could bring low any foe.

Ionia sure could produce dangerous beasts.

After another minute of searching, he found where Ahri had landed.

She was curled up into a ball to protect herself from the mist.

Xerath ran towards her, warding off the mist with a quick incantation.

He moved his hands around her form and tried to ascertain the situation she was in.

She was still breathing, yet she was panting for breath.

The runic systems of the League's toxin wards were doing their work, expelling and neutralizing the poison. But the wards would not be able to remove the entirety of the toxin while Ahri bathed in the fumes.

Generating a small pocket of heat, he dispersed the air and the airborne poison around her.

Her condition swiftly improved and her eyes opened up.

"Hi." Ahri smiled weakly.

"Hello."

"You mind if I… borrow, a bit of energy." She asked faintly.

"What do you mean by tha-"

Ahri rapidly pressed her lips against his faceplate, trying to kiss him if he still had a mouth.

What was she doing?

This was no time for romantics!

Wait.

Xerath felt a change in his power current, concentrated around the place where her lips met him.

She did want energy from him. The method was fairly questionable though.

I see.

But there was something else.

The current was being drawn back in to the Catenas.

Not good.

The sheer hunger of the Chains would be more than enough to suck every last drop of Ahri's magic inside, snuffing her life out like a candle in a vacuum.

Ahri's grip on him was starting to falter, her arms growing tired of their resistance to slumber.

Xerath called forth more energy from his being, denying the Catenas of Ahri's magic and forcing the power transfer in favor of Ahri.

Ahri squirmed slightly beneath him as she felt the energy slowly flow into her.

Xerath held her closer to stop the exchange from faltering between the two of them.

He felt his thoughts warm with the thought of helping her.

He felt Ahri's thoughts swim with his own.

Thoughts of intense fear and need.

She was incredibly scared.

But I am here, watching over her.

I will not allow fear to cloud the minds of my friends.

I will not allow a friend to die in my arms.

I have power. Immense power!

Death shall not win this day!

Ahri's withdrew from his lips, smiling that lustrous smile of hope.

"You liked that, didn't you?" Her voice was taxed and quiet from the powerful toxin that remained in her.

"Perhaps I did." Xerath lowered his tone to match hers.

"Hehe, don't let this go to your head, okay?" Ahri smirked.

"Well I am a eunuch. I don't think it would matter that much to you."

"Yeah, guess it wouldn't." Ahri panted slightly. "I'm going for a short nap, okay?"

"You realize that if you die on me, then I will never forgive you."

"This isn't that bad, I just need a little rest. These anti-toxin wards do take a lot of energy out of me. Then again, if they did improve these wards anymore, Teemo and Cassy would be pretty much useless on the Rift now." Ahri joked before resting her head against his chest.

"Thanks." Ahri whispered.

"Don't mention it."

Ahri smirked once more before her eyes grew heavy, sleep quickly taking hold of her.

Within a minute, she had fallen under its spell.

Xerath stayed by her side, cradling her in his arms.

He had not once seen the fox as she was now, completely helpless and completely open. Her breath was slow and steady, completely at peace with no worries clouding her mind. Her body was almost perfectly still, save for the slight movements of her chest rising and falling as she breathed in and out in perfect tempo.

She seemed so weak and frail in her current state compared to how she was on the Rift.

But she had not changed at all.

She had always been like this.

Her undeniable magical strength and agility in battle and her mischievous, witty personality stopped everyone from seeing her actual form.

A beautiful and fragile girl, like a flower in the wind.

I will not allow this flower to just be knocked aside. Not after she won my friendship.

Xerath continued his vigilance, scanning for any signs of human civilization. There was nothing his arcane sight could see as to any human life in the immediate area. The rest of the merchants were dead, killed by the beast that had hunted them.

Xerath sighed.

So long, Gue.

The beat of massive wings filled the air. The bamboo waxed and waned in the ensuing typhoon.

Xerath curled over, protecting Ahri from the immense blasts of air with his body.

He heard the massive thud of a truly massive creature land on the ground.

A dragon?

Most likely.

Let's hope it is friendly.

"WIELDER OF ARCANA, SHOW THINESELF! I DEMAND THOU TO REVEAL THEE AT ONCE!" A monstrous grandeur voice called out.

Perhaps not.

Xerath slowly set Ahri's resting body down on the ground, making sure that she was not disturbed. But if she were to be disturbed, then it would be by this dragon.

Xerath primed himself, calling forth his power. If that beast he had faced could ward off one of his spells, then this new potential threat could well do the same.

He unbuttoned his negatron-dampening cloak and slowly placed it over Ahri to guard against any collateral magic that may strike at her.

He flexed himself.

If the beast had any sort of magical connection, then it should have sensed me by now.

"WE ARE UNDER ORDERS FROM THE INSTITUTE OF WAR! UNDER ARTICLE 67, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPLAIN OURSELVES BEFORE YOU!" Xerath cried out to determine the nature of this new opponent.

"FROM THE INSTITUTION OF WAR YOU HAIL? VERY WELL. I WISH TO MEET THEE. COME HITHER SO I MAY SENSE WITH SIGHT, NOT HEAR A MERE VOICE." The voice replied, confident in the presence of the Institute to have a good explanation.

Xerath turned around to Ahri, who still slept quietly under the blanket he had lent her. She would be fine. Good.

Confirming Ahri's condition, Xerath walked towards where the voice called out.

After a minute's walk, he had returned to the destroyed convoy.

There were still the corpses of the men and that of the beast he had felled, in addition to the scattered cargo and goods.

But there was a newcomer to the scene.

A truly gargantuan dragon, its head reaching up to the very top of the bamboo stalks.

Its torso spanned the full road in width, easily twenty meters of pure dragon mass.

Each of the dark brown scales of its hide was almost a full plate-mail armor that a child might be fitted for.

Slowly, it stretched its massive head in the direction of Xerath, trying to get a closer look at the owner of the voice it had heard.

"BY THIS BLOOD THAT COURSES THROUGH MINE VEINS, THIS POWER! I REMEMBER THINE ENERGY, MAGE. THOU IST THE ONE WHO RENT THE WORLD APART! WHAT IST THOU DOING IN MINE LANDS?" The dragon declared in its epic booming voice.

"My name is Xerath. I have been sent by the Institute to inquire into the Dark Sovereign." Xerath introduced himself in addition to his mission.

If this dragon knew of the Institute, then it would most likely understand the pressing matter of the mission he had volunteered for.

Although it did not need to know the last part of that.

"Might I ask what do you mean by 'the one who rent the world apart'? What do you know of me?"

"When I was but a mere hatchling, there was a monstrous storm of arcana to the west. A storm beyond the comprehension of the Elder Dragons of the time, even being indescribable by the Ancient Dragon Scrolls, holders of knowledge from timeless eons. That storm destroyed the Ancient Shuriman Empire, whose destruction removed the order of the very world itself."

"You were around during my Ascension? Do you know what happened to me?"

"Dost thou not remember thine own past?"

"Only small memories. I was locked away for two and a half millennia, with only my mind left to wonder what happened to the world outside."

"Very well. What business do you seek in this here land?"

"I seek transport to Yamanoryu with my companion. Are you able to get us there?"

"You speak with the Elder Dragon, Myuin, the Torch of the Mountain of Dragons! I far than qualify to deliver thou unto our city."

Myuin searched around for a moment.

"Thine partner, where ist he?"

"She was badly hurt in a battle by that beast over there," Xerath pointed over to the Ionian Forest Drake that lay dead in the road, steam still fuming from its corpse.

"An Ionian Forest Drake? It surprised I that one should be able to fell such a foe. To even a young Dragon, those beasts are a potent foe, easily capable of killing one of our own with only small effort. Even I have had trouble killing just one."

"I managed to kill the beast in its charge, but not after my partner had taken significant damage."

"There are ways to remove the toxins of the Drake's Breath in the Mountain of Dragons, but we must leave with due haste! Lest she not wake from that endless sleep."

"I will get her, be ready to depart immediately when I return."

"Act swiftly, Xerath."

Xerath ran into the hole that had been made by Ahri's shield.

He found Ahri still sleeping by the bamboo shaft where he had laid her down.

She looked so peaceful beneath his cloak.

But now was not the time for such thoughts.

Xerath needed to get her to Yamanoryu immediately.

Carefully cradling her in his arms, Xerath picked her up slowly as to not disturb her.

She was still breathing softly, with no signs of poor condition.

She was doing well to survive this long if Myuin was right about the Drake's poisonous breath.

Xerath turned, walking back out towards the convoy with Ahri's form clinging to him like a child.

I should not say anything about this to any Summoner.

Who knows what sort of sh*t they may come up with between the two of us.