Chapter 6: The First Test
Two hours had passed it was almost night time as Viktor and Reina had finally been called to the council room to begin the first test. The council room was located in the tallest tower of the institute and so portal was needed to travel in and out or the actual room. Viktor and Reina was lead by high summoner Soren through the dragon lily gardens.
Reina could smell the lilies even before entering the magnificent garden. Many butterflies, wisps and fireflies crowded in this particular garden every evening. Reina had never seen a more beautiful sight. She wanted to stay to admire the flowers as they bloomed in the evening warmth.
Though the wisps and butterflies seemed to crowd and gather around Reina as she happily walked through the garden.
"They sense her peacefulness. They can feel the aura coming off her body and the flock to it. It seemed having the powers of the void isn't the only thing she possesses." Soren said quietly to Viktor.
Reina happily played with the harmless bugs that flocked to her. "Look at her Soren." Viktor said. "She's so happy." He admired.
"So she is…" Soren agreed. Though her excitement was short lived when the portal to the council's chamber activated on Soren's touch. The magic from it propelled outward towards Reina. Pushing away the playful bugs and causing Reina's attention to turn to it. This blew Reina's cloak off her head exposing her face to the light.
At that moment, Irelia was looking out her window which overlooked the Dragon lily garden. She was still thinking about what that summoner said. She witnessed Viktor and the girl walking through the garden but her eyes were only interested on the girl. The moment her cloak blew off from the magic if the portal she knew instantly who it was. Her eyes started to water, her expression turned to joy as she started to cry tears of joy silently. As much as she wanted to just jump down there and hug her friend. She wouldn't be allowed to. The Dragon lily garden was always protected by a powerful barrier. Irelia would've only hurt herself as her body would've been shocked with magical electricity.
She would have had to wait until the council was finished until she could see her friend again.
Reina would find herself in a completely different place as she went through the portal. The room consisted of spiraling stairs that seemed to go on forever. As Soren made his first step onto the stairs it lit up with magic, illuminating the path and the entire tower.
"Soren...I thought the councilors chamber was completely impossible to get to. How are we able to enter this place without being ripped apart by the barrier?" Viktor questioned.
The councilors chamber was specially created by Councilor Baro Torr', this place was specially designed to hold those um… "special" and particularly strong magical people. If the counselor brings someone here it means that they are being incredibly cautious. Reina unfortunately fits this bill and she will be given similar treatment to that of Syndra and Xerath. Though her test will be much easier for her mind than it was for the others. Because I'm well known by the council I can come here when I please. The reason why you two weren't harmed by the magic is because I've put spells on you in order for you to pass through the barrier." Soren explained.
"I specifically asked that Reina not be harmed. He said in a firm tone as he griped his scepter."
"And I promised you that she won't and the council will try their best not to cause her any pain." Soren defended.
"Just making sure." Viktor confirmed.
"Um...I don't feel safe here." Reina spoke up.
Both the men stopped. "What do you mean...lady Kissryil?" Soren asked.
Viktor stepped up to Soren. "Her magical power is rising fast." Viktor warned quietly as Reina clenched her stomach. The gadgets in his masks were going haywire again due to Reina's rising power.
"Yeah I can feel it. Sinister indeed." He returned.
Reina clenched her stomach tighter, as if trying to keep something in. "I feel something inside me...scratching at my stomach. It's pressing itself against my skin." She describes in pain. "I feel...so angry. But...why! It hurts."
Soren decided to try using a spell to calm her down temporarily though he had no idea if her mind would be shielded from summoner magic as the spell he placed on her before was a physical spell and not a mental one. Soren kissed his ring first, then quickly put the same hand on her forehead. He then whispered words in Rune dialect.
A mass of red light appeared from Sorens hand as it covered Reina's body. After a few seconds the spell would start to effect Reina forcibly suppressing her magic before it got too out of hand. Reina started to feel better as she had stopped clenching her stomach and finally relaxed on Victor's chest. She breathed heavily as her body seemed to calm down.
"Quick thinking Soren." Viktor complimented. "What did you do exactly. You look drained after that."
"I used a silencing spell that forcibly suppressed the magic within her. Though i never thought she would drain me this much." He said panting. "It should help her out at least till this test is over. Hopefully she feels better when she leaves this place." He hoped.
"But why did her power act up like that. Doesn't seem normal." Viktor questioned.
"That I do not have an answer for. We should notify the council on this." Soren said.
They reached the top of the stairs after a few more seconds. Reina could move on her own now as she picked herself up off Victor's chest. She looked to the floor as she quietly breathed. "I'm sorry if I'm being a nuisance I don't know what this "power" is. I can't even control it. I'm sorry for causing you trouble High Summoner." She said softly with some sadness.
Soren approached her and lifted her head. He looked at her with kind and caring eyes. "When I agreed to help you, I promised Viktor that I would do everything in my power to help you get through this. Even if you can't remember your past I will try to assist you on that as well. It's not just a job that I do. It's something I enjoy doing. Helping others, and making sure that this world is safe is always my top priority. So you aren't a burden nor are you causing me trouble. So don't beat yourself up on that.". He replied to her.
Viktor had never heard a summoner speak to someone the way he spoke to Reina. Or no one has ever spoken to him that way. He wondered if Soren was always like that or if he was just trying to console her. Either way it seemed to make Reina feel better and that was good enough for him.
"Alright when we get inside, please speak when you are spoken to. Do not speak unless you are asked and do not insult anyone. These are the most powerful summoners in the world and there is nothing I can do should they decide to help you or not. Understand?" He asked Reina.
Reina's nerves hit her as she nodded to his warning and they proceeded inside. As they entered the room was dark only a single chair could be seen surrounded by a beam of light that seemed to shine from a sunspot in the roof. Viktor would stand next to her as she took a seat. The moment she took a seat, more lights would shine on the councilors casting then in silhouette. Reina couldn't see their faces but it was easy to make out their physical sizes.
Soren walked forward into the darkness then the light would shine on him as well as he stood on a pedestal.
"Dear Council I present to you the next Champion candidate and her guardian and reference, Viktor, The machine Herald. As you all know Lady Kissryil was found washed up on the shores of Zaun half dead. I shall let Viktor explain the rest." Soren stepped off the pedestal and Viktor took his place to explain what has happened in the time he spent with her.
After a few minutes of talking the council understood their position and wanted to question Reina to confirm that she wasn't a threat.
The voice of a young female councilor spoke up. "You have been heard Viktor and High Summoner Soren. We will now turn our attention to the candidate. Lady Reina place step forward." The light followed Reina until it stopped, Reina stopped with it.
"How old are you Lady Kissryill?" The same voice asked.
"I'm twenty years old." Reina answered politely.
"Hmmm, she is quite young. Youngest of all our champions. It might be tough for her." A male said quietly.
"If anything she should be a model. Not a champion." Another male said.
"What is your purpose for coming to this institute?" The female asked again.
"I came because father said this would be a good place to learn about my powers. Though I'm confused about that." She answered.
"Confused about what exactly?" A male asked.
"Well you see the only power that I've always had was the gift of foresight. I was born with it, though I could never control it. My visions would always come to me in dreams when I least expected it. Now father tells me that I have great power, but I don't know where this new power came from." She replied.
"Soren told us that you had an episode outside, he said that he had to cast a suppression spell to calm you down." The female spoke.
"That is correct!" She responded.
"What did it feel like...before he casted his spell?" One of the males asked.
"It felt like something was under my skin. It felt like it was scratching to get out. I felt an overwhelming feeling of pain and rage." Reina didn't want the council to see her as a scared person. So she tried to be as composed as possible.
There was silence for a few seconds as papers and documents were being passed around. "And your visions...could you tell us what you normally see in these dreams?". The woman asked.
"Unfortunately I cannot. Until I get memories back, I don't remember anything prior to spending those two years with father." She replied.
"Hmm, it seems that you think very highly of the Herald. Why do you call him "father?"" One of the men asked.
Reina smiled and simply answered. "I remember nothing of my past, but I do know that I owe Viktor my life. He gave me a second chance, an opportunity to live my life again. The time I spent with him...it felt like I had a father and even though I don't know who my real father is...my body remembers him. And Viktor makes me feel like that."
Viktor seemed to smile under his mask. Soren also smiled at how much Viktor has changed since Reina came into his life. Even if the relationship is one of father and daughter Viktor seemed to have changed for the better.
"Alright...no further questions. Tests are over at least for today. Viktor, Reina must be ready to return in two days for the second test, and please bring whatever other files that you may have on Reina that you believe may help us with getting her memories back." The male said.
The moment they were getting ready to leave the room the female councilor spoke up. "Lady Kissryil? I would love for you to visit my private quarters tomorrow evening, I hope you like tea."
Reina bowed her head and left the room returning to the stairwell. Viktor and Soren followed afterward.
"Strange, Lady Kolminye never gave anyone permission to visit her in her quarters before." Soren wondered out loud.
"Lady Kolminye?" Reina asked, clueless about what Soren was talking about.
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about." He answered.
"So what happens now?" She asked politely.
"Well, since Lady Kolminye asked you to visit her. I think we can safely assume that they all agreed to try to help you get your memories back in exchange for your services as a champion. So for now you'll need to return to spend the night in one of our many guest rooms as there hasn't been a room selected for you as yet. Follow me to the north wing." Soren explained.
Viktor followed closely behind Reina and Soren as Soren helped Reina to understand what being a champion was about. She wasn't sure if she was ready for the task.
It wasn't long until they made it outside. After leaving the barrier, Reina felt as if an incredible weight was lifted off her shoulders. "I feel...lighter." She explained.
"I wonder…never mind. Well I should show you to your room." Soren lead them through a small archway into a dark corridor. It was night time now. Soren snapped his fingers and a mass of white light emanated from his hand as it lit the hallway.
As Reina and Viktor followed, Reina had stopped and turned her head to look behind her. She peered through the darkness as if searching for something. Though it was dark the hallway wasn't pitch black and she could see a little on the path.
Soren and Viktor soon stopped after they noticed that Reina wasn't following. "My child, what is wrong?" Viktor asked her.
"I feel like something was watching me." She said. Viktor took her hand as Soren went to see what it was.
"Stay here…" He made the light brighter as he went back to the archway. When he go there he saw an eye sentry patrolling the halls then headed back.
"What was it?" Viktor asked.
"An eye sentry. It was probably scanning Reina as it patrolled the halls. Nothing to worry about. Just graveyard summoners keeping an eye on things." He assured them.
Back at the archway Irelia hid from Soren's view as she was watching Reina leave. She wanted to go to her but every bone in her body was outweighed by pain. She headed back to her quarter just above her. Jumping to a ledge them climbing into her living room. She then makes her way to her bedroom flopping onto the mattress.
A single tear flowed down her cheek, then two, then a stream. She cried silently in her room under the gaze of the moon she cried for her friend. The friend that she thought was dead for two years turned out to be alive after all this time. The friend that was like a sister to her now walking with Viktor, a man that provided weapons to Noxus as they warred against Ionia. A man that generated hatred in the hearts of many Ionians. Irelia was at a loss, for two years she'd been searching for her friends murderer only to turn up with more questions. It made her heavy, like a massive wall on her chest it was too much to bare. In the end all she could do...was cry.