Chapter 27: Misunderstandings can be very entertaining.
Riding in Myuin's claw had been a rough journey.
The Elder did not enjoy the thought of being ridden, but he was at ease with the thought of carrying Xerath and Ahri in his monstrous talons to the Great City of Yamanoryu.
Myuin did not have much knowledge of a smooth ride for a human, his mighty wing-beats swooping his form up and down by several meters. The sudden changes in momentum were incredibly annoying to deal with.
But that time was past.
Ahri was being treated now.
After a few hours, the doctor emerged.
"She'll be fine. I've worked with Forest Drake toxin before, nasty stuff, but with the proper equipment it is fairly easy to remove from the body. The stuff is fairly pronounced in its effects, so a carefully constructed combination of drugs is enough to stop it. We were taking so long because the current version of the medicine is hard to test because of how hard it is to get a living and stable person to the hospital before the toxin takes them. She should be fine to walk around, but I do want to do a couple tests tomorrow and perhaps another test in a few days just to check up on her and the state of the drugs. Other than that, she is completely fine and should be able to battle on Summoner's Rift very soon."
"Thank you. We have some business in the area so the two of us should be around the next few days."
"That's good then. Oh, by the way, do you mind signing an autograph for my son? He freaking loves the League and all of the matches that get broadcasted here. For him to know that his Dad managed to get an autograph from a champion would be a dream come true."
"Interesting, I will take up that offer. Might I ask who are his favorites?"
"Caitlyn and Jarvan the Fourth."
"Do I factor into the mix?"
"Sadly no. Something about having no mobility."
"Okay." Xerath said quietly, defeated by mere preference.
Damn them and their ability to dash through thick walls.
"Alright, you can come in." Ahri called from behind the door.
Xerath slid back the traditional Ionian wooden frame doors, revealing an absolutely stunning sight before him.
It was Ahri, clothed in an outstandingly beautiful Ionian gown. Her hair was bundled away into a small bun, held by an exquisite metal trident. It was slightly more… presentable to a formal meeting than her usual attire of that red dress that showed off an enticingly amount of cleavage and left her legs mostly exposed.
Ahri's eyebrow suddenly rose up from its original position.
"You like it?"
"It's better than your usual attire."
Ahri's face scrunched up into a wicked smile for a split second in light of the comment.
"I believe it suits you. It makes you look intellectual and beautiful in a more classical sense. And you know my thoughts on the classics."
Ahri chuckled.
"Well I do kind of like it. Definitely warmer than my other stuff, that's for sure. Also I don't have to worry about my tails getting in my way."
After quickly fidgeting near the back of the gown, Ahri turned her back on Xerath, showing how her tails fit through a small incision in the fabric.
If anyone else found that incision without context, then that could really make things awkward.
Lightly swinging her hips, she showed how the pure white fur danced in tandem. Those things could easily mesmerize any man.
Perhaps I have already been mesmerized myself.
"So we have that thing with Myuin?" Ahri asked.
"Indeed we do. We should set off soon."
"Know what it's about?"
"He may want to talk with me about my past, but I think it's more about him offering up disciples to train. I've heard things about Ionian martial arts schools often asking for the League to include this amazing local hero, most of which have been unsuccessful."
"So they get in contact with one of the Champions and offer a local hero to them as a disciple. I know that as well. 'But my son is an incredible bladesman!', they say when Master Yi shamed a local hero by removing his jewels with no effort at all."
"That is Master Yi though, a thorough bred Ionian who does not take everyone to be a student."
"Apart from a monkey."
"Yeah… I wonder what was going through Yi's head when he made Wukong his disciple."
"Wukong can summon clones of himself through some weird martial art sh*t. Knowing Yi's adoration of women, he could very well steal certain 'items' from a locker room or clothes drawer."
"That… actually makes some weird sort of sense."
"Guess so. Mage Xerath, do you wish to escort me to our meeting with the dragon?" Ahri said in a mocking regal tone, obviously trying to make fun of Myuin's rather old way of talking.
"My Lady Ahri, it would be an honor." Xerath replied, going along with the joke.
A column of armored soldiers escorted the two to Myuin's cave dwelling that had been carved into the mountain that gave Yamanoryu its name.
The immense corridors that Xerath walked through was clearly made for dragons for there was no way that man could so easily have tunneled through stone like this in ages past without immense effort, yet the walls were lined with the marks of immense claws from eons ago. Not to mention that the corridors spanned twenty-five meters from each side.
An entire army could fit in here, Xerath thought.
They continued on until the corridor opened out into a monstrous dwelling that could very well compete with the Noxian Coliseum in the sheer size of it.
Myuin was lounging on a massive bed of stone, surrounded by human servants that buzzed around him. Two other groups were also present by his side, one group a conglomerate of officials in heavy formal robes, the other a small gathering of what appeared to be warriors in combat armor.
"LADY AHRI! MAGE XERATH! I welcome thou to this gathering. As is tradition in Ionia, the Yamanoryu Council and I, the Torch of the Mountain, Myuin, wish to extend a welcoming gift of a disciple to aid thou in thine cause."
Knew it.
They are going to try to get a local hero to spy on us and establish a foothold to boast about their ties to a Champion.
Damn them.
Guess I'll just have to go through with this and see if even one of them is worthy.
A very quick scan of the arcane spectra showed only one good candidate.
A young swordsman whose power glistened like that of a candle.
"Think that one is good? If anything, it is better to get this over and done with." Xerath whispered to Ahri, briefly pointing at the boy when he wasn't looking to make sure that it was kept relatively discrete.
"I guess so, he's the only person who even has a shred of magical ability here. Half of them are just brutes with a weapon to compensate for the size of their brain, and their parts. Check him out in a duel or something, he could very well be a completely naïve idiot who was no idea what to do in battle."
"Alright then."
"Please take your time to search through these brave and strong warriors. Each of them is a warrior beyond the merit of even I, the Torch of the Mountain! I believe that the League will take great interest of these immaculate citizens."
Xerath paced back and forth in front of the phalanx of intense soldiers, bred from the very heart of Ionia and forged in fires beyond any normal man's capability. But it was all just to seem considerate.
His decision on the candidate had already been made when he saw the swordsman who wielded the art of the arcane. To focus on the man alone was stupid, but his demeanor was far less intimidating than the others, a key point when it came to finally meeting Syndra. If their disciple were to suddenly unleash their emotions on Syndra, then all negotiations would break down and his chance to save her would slip away by some defensive thoughts of a Neanderthal.
After a short amount of time, Xerath picked the swordsman out.
"What is your name?"
"Yamoto, my Lord."
He greets me like Azel did.
At least I know how I can deal with this one.
Making constant fun of him.
Ahri might like that idea as well.
"Might I ask you to show me your skill?"
"I would be most pleased, my Lord."
"Then you may duel me. Attack me in one single strike."
"As you wish my Lord."
The young man grasped the sheath of the curved long sword. His black and unkempt hair wafted in an oncoming draft from an opening that peered out over the mountain, his body completely calm.
A bright dazzle of light glistened from his blade as he drew it.
Two illusionary comrades appeared by his side, ready by their master.
Xerath removed his cloak and boots, showing his true form to the crowd before him.
Yamoto's eyes opened slightly in shock, but the rest of his body remained perfectly still like the sentinels by his side.
Xerath readied his magic, making it as obvious as he could to make a point that he was not to be taken lightly.
The air crackled with Xerath's incredible power, even lifting small grains of rock up from the floor.
In a sudden flash of intense light, Yamoto began his attack.
The light was blinding to Xerath and all onlookers, but Xerath could still see Yamoto's form and that of his illusions that were dashing towards him at an incredible speed.
Within an instant, three magical signatures surrounded him.
One coming down upon him from his right, another coming up in a sweeping motion to the left, the final figure coming right at his back.
I have only a second to do something.
Which one is the real one?
Perhaps all three are fakes?
I sense no other signatures, so the one coming from behind me is most likely the real one.
I know how to deal with this now.
Xerath generated a sharp blast of energy out from his body.
He could sense the magical essence of the two coming from his sides immediately dissipate from the sudden jolt of magic destabilizing the illusions.
That only left the one behind him.
It had only been scratched by his blast.
It had flinched slightly, but it was still pressing onwards to strike Xerath.
This is the real Yamoto no doubt.
He has shown me enough.
His sword could very well pierce the Lord's back.
It would only take one more second for the blade to reach him.
His Lord had removed his Sentinels rather surprisingly.
He had felt the blast of magical energy rupture and distort their forms so they could not function.
This attack was supposed to be his masterpiece, yet his Lordship had so easily figured out what was happening and acted quicker than any other opponent he had faced.
His Lordship was without a doubt a Champion of the League.
It was an honor to face off against such a strong opponent.
He felt a feeling of pride that left him open for a mere second.
A sudden crackle of energy sparked inside him.
His body's momentum changed rapidly, his vision fading out.
Xerath had struck out at Yamoto with his Mage Chains.
Or rather he had detonated them.
He had already placed a smaller Chain curse upon him when his blade had first summoned those illusions.
Xerath had proceeded to bide his time, slowly amplifying the strength of the Chain curse until it finally reached a level enough to knock Yamoto out for a short time.
He knew that Yamoto was buying time to plan his attack and meditate.
That was his mistake.
To leave himself open against a Mage.
The detonating burst had been delayed slightly due to a lag in the Chain curse system that primed itself a short duration after the triggering spell had been cast.
I need to remove that delay one of these days.
Either way, Yamoto showed promise.
The entire duel had lasted less than five seconds.
The light faded, revealing Yamoto being flung aside completely unconscious while Xerath had remained motionless.
It looked like Xerath had completely and utterly destroyed Yamoto's chance of even being considered as a disciple.
There were so many better options that were significantly stronger than this country boy. He was sprawled out pathetically on the ground, a useless waste of the time of his master had granted him. Nothing more than a brat who thought he could even stand a chance of gaining entrance to the League.
So thought Myuin and the Council of the Mountain as well as the other warriors who were beyond irritated that the runt had been called forward.
"I choose Yamoto as my disciple." Xerath declared. "He has proven himself to be an interesting asset. I wish him to accompany Lady Ahri and myself during our stay."
THIS MAN DARES CONSIDER THIS RUNT WORTHY?
WHAT SORT OF FOOL IS HE?
"I have chosen him on grounds of magical potential. Look to your comrades and ask do they have the same gift as Yamoto has? For they do not possess the same arcane talent as Yamoto does. Lady Ahri and I are both mages, practitioners of the arcane. It suits us that we may have another to add to our ranks instead of another warrior who has no knowledge into the power that magic wields."
Ahri smirked, knowing how stupid Xerath seemed to the crowd of people by defying their expectations.
It was always entertaining how idiots get their pride completely removed, their silence and surprise was funny to watch sometimes.
The two had returned to their sizeable accommodation with Yamoto's unconscious body in tow.
Their involvement with the Institute had granted them the luxury of having a decent house for their stay, with several separate rooms and one of those serene gardens that Ionian Elders could fuss over for hours on the tidiness of the grass or having a few twigs land in a wrong place.
Xerath laid Yamoto down on the bed carefully, the man still knocked out by his Mage Chains.
This guy is pretty weak, being knocked out for so long by such a small amount of power. Needs to toughen up a bit and make his moves less obvious.
He could indeed be a very strong opponent given time.
At least to martial artists.
"Hey Xerath, you mind coming over here?"
"What is it?" Xerath said, looking through to Ahri's room.
"I've been thinking about a couple things." Ahri fiddled with her index fingers.
"And those things are?"
"Well, you kind of helped me quite a lot the past couple of days, so… I kind of want to give you something of a reward."
"Like what?"
Yamoto's vision returned to him from his slumber.
There was a ceiling above him.
Had he been moved?
Looks like it.
But to where?
Had Lady Ahri and Lord Xerath taken him in?
Or had they rejected him?
Where the hell am I?
There was a small squeak from the other room.
A human squeak at a moment of pleasure.
"I have not even started yet."
That was Lord Xerath's voice. What the hell is going on?
"Your crystal hands are cold and hard. Not exactly the softest things in the world, you know."
Lady Ahri?
This is bad. I should not be here!
"Oh yeah, right there. Ooo-ooh, that feels sooo damn good."
"You like this?"
"Oh yeah, right th- Ahahaha! Yeeeheaheaheaheas!"
Wh-Wh-What the hell is this!
I-I-I-I should not listen to this! The-They need their alone time for sure! Ye-Yeah, I'll just walk around a little bit and leave them in peace.
"So am I doing a good job?"
"I've had better, but you are one of the few who I've allowed to touch there. Sona is at the top at the moment. The way she does it is just incredible! Her fingers are just so soft and warm that it makes me feel as if I'm in heaven!"
THE FAIR MAIDEN SONA BUVELLE!
WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING!
"You have not lived until you have been touched there by those delicate fingers."
"You do realize that I do not possess this area, nor have I ever?"
"Well… She could service… other… areas."
"You are insinuating something dirty right now aren't you?"
"I could be, isn't that right Yamoto?"
WHAT…
THE…
F**K!
"M-M-My apologies for e-e-e-eavesdropping! I-I did not mean to interrupt your private time."
"Private… Time…" Xerath started, questioning the meaning of those two words.
"BY THE FATES! You set this up, didn't you?"
"Hehehehehehe." Ahri laughed, her glorious plan finally realized.
"Don't pull that sly face with me, fox."
"It's what I do best."
"I-I-I should leave you two alone, please forgive me!" Yamoto stammered.
"Oh for f- Yamoto, open the door." Xerath demanded.
Yamoto slid the door open slowly, only to find something completely different from what he expected.
Xerath was kneeling down on the floor with Ahri resting her head on his lap.
Lord Xerath was fiddling with Lady Ahri's ears?
"Oh hey there." Ahri said, smiling innocently.
"What…" Yamoto said plainly, completely baffled by the situation.
"You, obviously, have never had a cat. Foxes like this sort of thing as well." Ahri said before Xerath stroked her ears again, her face completely relaxing as Xerath rubbed them.
"O...kay… then…" Yamoto whispered, still confused by the events that passed.
"Alright, I think that is enough for now. Now we have to move on to more pressing matters."
"Mou… Fine." Ahri rolled her eyes, lifting her head from Xerath's lap.
"First of all, Yamoto. I welcome you as my disciple. Myuin disagreed with me on my decision, but you were the only one out of the crowd who wielded a portion of magical strength. As a mage, I would prefer to teach one the arcane arts who actually has some insight into them rather than a complete and utter idiot with no experience."
Lord Xerath chose me?
He noticed my talent!
"You still have a long way to go though, so I'm going to be looking at practical applications to see how you can improve."
Practical applications? What were those?
"By that, I mean me watching you practice."
Ah, so Xerath-Sensei is going to watch me practice.
"As you wish, Lord Xerath."
"Also call me Xerath, I already have one person who does that and it pisses me off."
"As you wish, Xerath."
"So. Here is the plan for the coming days. Ahri has to check up with a doctor in the morning to see how she is doing, after which we will proceed to-"
"The Dark Palace. Boo!" Ahri tried to make it sound mockingly scary.
"That is a really bad name. Are all Ionian landmarks named by literal translations?"
"Only in the North."
Somehow Ahri had actually managed to spook Yamoto.
"Well this guy is going to be fun." She whispered to herself.
"Getting back to the matter then, our business in Ionia is with the Dark Sovereign."
"You mean that incredibly powerful witch in that floating castle?"
"Her name is Syndra, and she is a mage, not a witch. It's a more appropriate name. Anyway, I need to get her to cooperate with the Institute to get Ionia on better terms with her. When we get there, we have to be incredibly careful to not provoke her. If she does not cooperate, then we could have a major sh*tstorm on our hands, and I do not like sh*tstorms on my head. When the time comes to talk with her, Ahri and I will do the talking. We have knowledge on these sorts of things. You should just leave it to the experts. Is that understood?"
"Yes Lord!"
"And please stop that."