Chapter 2: Destroyed
Irelia was making her way to the city after doing some business in the institute, the boat blared off and she later got on a carriage that waited for her. After a few minutes of looking over some paperwork while being carried home, she had passed a farm house on the open country. Just before entering the city, she heard a young girl's voice and some kind of instrument. She looked out the carriage and saw a girl singing and being accompanied by a middle aged man. Her vision was soon obstructed by a white wall of a small stable just outside the city.
"Stop the carriage!" She ordered. The carriage came to a rolling stop and she quickly got out as the driver watched her disappear behind the large wall. Irelia seemed entranced by the sound of the music being played as she made her way towards the enchanting voice. The music came from a nearby garden filled with butterflies and small birds that swarmed around the culprits. The haunting beauty of it seemed to call to her. She had heard many other talented musicians before from all around Runeterra, but none was quite like this young girl's voice, she had been touched by their talent and found herself inspired. As she looked upon them, she saw that they were wearing ragged clothing, their faces were covered in dust and their feet in mud and grime. Their clothes were ripped in some places and hair was messy and unkempt. Irelia saw that they were homeless, but she felt an inspiring need to help them…
Reina had gotten up early as she was still excited about seeing a new country. She had slept well and stretched out her body; she fixed her hair and headed for the bathroom. After a long refreshing bath she receives a knock on the door. She approached the door and slowly opened it slightly. "Yes?" She asked the servant that stood outside the door.
"Lady Irelia requests your presence in the courtyard after you've received your breakfast." She answered with a bow.
"Good morning Celina and thank you!" Reina smiled.
"Good morning to you too, do you require assistance getting dressed?" The servant asked.
"No thank you, I'll be out shortly." Reina assured her.
"Very well, Lady Reina." Reina closed the door and got ready.
After several minutes Reina went to the courtyard and found Irelia waiting in front of a carriage. Irelia was wearing a casual Jeans with a T-Shirt whilst Reina was wearing a simple white dress and a bow in her hair. The maid had escorted Reina to the carriage and Irelia opened the door for her. "Where are we going?" She asked when she sat down inside, followed by Irelia and the servant.
"I'm taking you shopping for a performance dress. Demacia is a high class place and you need to look elegant for the parade. We can pick up a nice suit for your father too." Irelia replied.
The carriage arrived in the shopping district in half an hour. Reina and Irelia stepped out among the citizens, to which Reina was suddenly startled by a large group of little girls that wanted to touch her hair. Reina pleased the kids and let them play with her hair and she would often play with them too. Once Irelia was done talking to the driver. The kids waved Reina off as she walked down the street with Irelia and the servant. Many citizens recognized Reina and waved at her and Irelia.
Throughout the course of the morning they had gone through a series of different stores until they found a nice purple gown that would be perfect for the performance. They entered and picked out her size and she tried it on. After a couple minutes Reina emerged from the changing room in the dress complete with headdress. "Beautiful!" The store owner said. Reina spun around in it and did a few poses to get a feel of it. The store owner walked up to Reina, "Young Lady, how would you feel about modeling for my store products?" Reina giggled and Irelia paid the owner for the dress. They had already picked out a nice looking black and purple suit for Irnon before returning to the carriage.
After getting back to the house Reina had found her father in the living room preparing the sheet music and packing up a few clothes. She quickly ran up to her father and gave him his suit, planting a loving kissing on his cheek. Irelia turned to the servant, "Celina, go to my room and bring me the blue plastic box in my dresser."
"Yes, my Lady." Celina replied obediently.
"I trust you had a good breakfast, Irnon?" Irelia asked him as she placed the bag of clothes in the chair.
"Yes. It was good…" Irnon replied as he looked at the suit. "Thank you, for the suit."
"Irelia picked it out for you." Reina said.
Celina came back with the box. "Thank you." Irelia thanked her. Celina soon returned to her usual duties.
"I'll be right back girls; I need to use the restroom." Irnon informed.
Upon seeing Irnon leave Irelia had hid something behind her back. "Reina, could you come here please?" Irelia asked her. Reina approached her curiously, her eyes that looked up at the Captain of the guard seemed sultry.
"Turn around please?" She asked timidly. Reina did so and Irelia had pulled a necklace out of the blue box which contained a glowing blue colored crystal and placed it gently around her neck.
"Happy birthday Reina." Irelia said as she stroked Reina's hair.
"Oh, Irelia! It's beautiful. I love it!" Reina happily said as she hugged her best friend.
Irelia hugged back.
"It was my mothers, may its light keep you safe." Irelia kissed Reina's forehead and slowly broke off the pleasant scene. Irnon had returned from the restroom and took up the suitcases.
"Well…let's go. The ferry will leave within the hour." Irnon said as he headed for the door.
As the trio entered the carriage that would take them to the ferry, Irelia watched as Reina and Irnon conversed. Then turned away a she got a worrisome feeling in her gut. 'Why do I feel like something bad is going to happen on that boat?! Why am I so worried? It's a trip to Demacia not the Shadow Isles…I need to relax.' She thought to herself. The carriage arrived a few minutes later and the boat was taking on its last passengers. Reina and Irnon quickly hurried on with Reina waving back at Irelia, and happily saw them off before returning to her duties. She then saw something in the corner of her eyes rushing to the boat. She did not see it clearly and was confused as to if it was her imagination or if she actually saw something. She eventually shakes it off and took the same carriage back to her office to continue her duties.
When Reina finally saw that the boat was moving off, Irnon noticed two armed and armored soldiers approaching them. "Good day to you both. We are soldiers from the Royal Guard. Irelia has commissioned us to protect you throughout your time away from Ionia." One of the soldiers said. Reina greeted the soldiers and Irnon shook their hands. The boat was well away from the dock and was going to be in open sea soon. "We will see to it that your trip is without incident. Do you wish to see your room now?" The other soldier asked.
"Of course." Irnon confirmed. "You two seem awfully excited…" Irnon commented as they lead his to their room.
"Well…it's not every day that you get positioned to protect a well-known singer, let alone musician." The one on the right said. They soon came up to the room which was located in the rear most of the ship away from the others and only accessible by the ferry's most trusted servants and security. "Here is your room." They said as one of them opened the door."
After the family had settled into their new room, it was not long before night fell and stars filled the sky above. The guards made sure that they were safe and stood guard outside, inside the room, Reina laid on the bed poking and playing with the crystal Irelia had given her. "Dad? " She caught his attention from the desk he was working at.
"Yes dear?" He replied.
"Why do you think Irelia takes good care of us all the time?" She asked.
The father pondered as he stroked his chin a bit. "That's a good question, maybe she saw our potential and decided to help us…you can always ask her yourself when we get back from the parade." He suggested.
"Sometimes I hear a voice in my head, not sure what it is. But…I feel like it's definitely there."
She mentioned. This alarmed Irnon, he knew that his daughter often had terrifying nightmares but this was something else entirely.
"Maybe it's your mother calling out to you. You just have to listen to it…" He assured her so she wouldn't get scared. "It's late…you should get some sleep Reina, we will be landing tomorrow afternoon."
Reina never took off the necklace. She simply smiled happily and pull the covers up to her shoulders. "Goodnight dad." She smiled at him.
"Happy Birthday Reina." He quietly replied, though she didn't seem to hear his last sentence.
A few hours had gone by and the guards remained alert. Not a single look of sleepiness in them. The family was sound asleep the guards were having a conversation standing outside. But before they could finish, something came running at them. A black figure rushing from out of the darkness of the shadows and pounced on the guard. Only loud screams of pain and anguish could be heard after that, this awoke Irnon and Reina. Never had they heard a more bone chilling scream, Irnon quickly reached for his hunting knife that he always kept on his person. Standing by the door he looked at his daughter.
"Go hide Reina. No matter what do NOT come out."
"Father, don't!" She pleaded.
"Don't question me right now girl. Go hide…NOW!" He ordered.
Reina obeyed him and hid herself in the closet. The father would defend his daughter to his last breath, but he was no fighter. After the last guard fell, the creature started banging itself against the door. It was clear its motive was to kill them. Irnon stood his ground, the door pounding away. To Reina, each slam against the door felt like her heart stopped each time, each knock created an image in her mind, each one more terrifying than the next. Each time she sees a face of a woman seemingly becoming more and more decrepit. She huddled herself in a ball and held her head in fear. Finally the door gave way, and the creature jumped onto Irnon. Reina could hear the sounds of something like an animal; it chewed through Irnon's knife arm and used its claws to leave a gaping hole in his chest. Now on the brink of death Irnon could no longer act. He could only watch as the creature sniffed his daughter out and feel his last heart beats.
Reina saw what happened to her father and her fear increased, she breathed in loud gasping breaths which allowed the creature to hear and find her. It pulled her out of the closet violently, Reina spun across the room hitting her arm against the wall, breaking it in several places. Her frail body was easy to break, and easy to harm. The creature walked up to Reina, her eyes filled with fear and pain; suddenly the creature turned away from Reina and stepped aside for a man to enter the room. "Very good, my pet." He said to the creature. He knelt down in front of Reina, her painfully blurred vision could not make out his face, but she could hear his voice clearly.
"Looks like you're hurt…good. I wouldn't want you getting away, not that it mattered." The man held his hand over the girl's head. "Such fear, good. Now be consumed by it!" A black mist came out of the man's hand and latched itself onto Reina's head. Reina was completely still after that her eyes staring up at the ceiling her eyes black than the blackest night. She found herself standing in a field filled with the corpses of champions. The blood caked upon her body and feet wading in ankle high gore. She couldn't speak, only see as she saw a dark figure of herself standing in front of her. Glowing eyes, black hair, and a wide sinister grin on her face. A tear would be seen leaving Reina eye as she suffered.
"Pet, finish her off." The man commanded. The creature then jumped at Reina's motionless body, sinking its massive claws in her abdomen, tearing flesh and ripping muscle. Reina remained motionless as if her mind was in a different place, or already dead. Three large claw marks were left on her abdomen when the man commanded the creature to follow him. Reina was left there, to rot on the boat, lifeless and in torment. A few minutes after leaving Reina's room, he felt a large power growing and smiled with a sinister intent, "Hehehehe. Enjoy your new power, Reina!" He said out loud. As he turned his head, he saw massive dark power rising from Reina's room. He quickly opened up a portal, jumping through it. The ship soon exploded in black energy, then flames. No one survived.