Chapter 7: Sad Reunion
Morning had struck and Reina awoken in the guest room that Soren had for her. Viktor had decided to return to his lab the same night via portal, he let Reina know that he would return with the other documents for the next test. Reina had the day to herself so she decided to tour the building. Soren had given her a map the previous night as the institute was rather large and was easy to get lost in. As she woke she took a bath and first headed to the cafeteria for breakfast. Dressed in casual jeans and T-shirt she headed out to explore after breakfast. Making her way down the hall she had passed what seemed to be a training area. There were many other people there and dummies for practicing combat as well as several different wooden weapons and bows. She didn't know anyone there but decided to look around a bit. Making her way into the training area she then saw another person there. They seemed to be augmented. The person was a summoner that has his leg replaced. As the summoner looked up he saw Reina looking at him then he saw that her augments were much more extensive than his own.
As he looked at Reina his eyes fell on her augments, then her hair, then her face, then her body. A small blush came over his face as he looked at her but eventually he cleared his mind and decided to ask her about her augments.
"They look like they are made for combat." He said.
Reina smiled. The summoner didn't realize that one of Reina's arms were indeed hextech. Viktor had made it so well that it would be mistaken for an actual human arm...unless you were actually looking at it up close. Reina didn't really respond to him as she was unsure of if she could trust other summoners.
"Are you perhaps a new champion candidate?" He asked her. Reina simply nodded. "Well if you're exploring. Would you perhaps...like a guide?" Reina appreciated his offer but instead opted not to bother him and just showed him the map.
"Oh...I see you already are covered." He stood up and waited for another person that was approaching him. And Reina was making her way further into the training area.
"Well...enjoy your stay." He wished her. Reina returned a sincere smile and continued along her way.
As she looked around she saw a tall man dressed in a training pants and shirtless. He wielded a massive claymore that seemed to me much heavier than it looked. His hair was short and he gave off the feeling of authority. As he trained Reina could smell his sweat as she stopped to look at him. The man eventually stopped to take a drink of water that he had in a bottle.
He turned to take a short rest as he realized he was being watched. Though what followed caught her by surprise.
"Katarina…" He said out loud. He then caught on. "Oh, I apologize, I thought you were someone else."
Reina had no idea who this "Katarina" was but she was more fixated on talking to him for a bit.
"Not the person you were hoping for?" She giggled. "I should've announced myself. But I didn't want to disturb your training sir." Her cute and innocent demeanor took him a little off guard.
"I haven't seen you around here before. Are you a visitor?" He questioned as he took a seat, placing the massive weapon next to him.
She smiled at him, tilting her head to one side as she responded. "Kind of, I'm undergoing the evaluations." This made the man almost spit out his water as he was drinking it. "I'm sorry." She apologized, "Are you OK?"
He caught himself, then looked at her properly. He noticed the augments on her back. But more importantly he saw how young she was. "Why would such a young lady like yourself want to become a champion? I don't mean to be offensive but...the battlefield is no place for a child. If anything you should be a model. I don't believe the augment should not hinder you."
He was clearly sincere but Reina took no offense to him. "Thank you for the compliment. But the choice wasn't entirely mine. I kinda fit forced into it." She answered.
"I see." He said as he stood back up. "I won't ask for details. Just be careful around here, I see that you're augmented. There are people that dislike anyone associated to Viktor."
"Do you dislike my father?" She asked, catching him off guard again.
He looked at her again, this time her body. He was impressed that a man like Viktor could produce such a beautiful offspring. "I was not aware that Viktor was capable of having children. But no I don't dislike him. I dislike his methods."
"I'm not his blood daughter silly." She laughed. "He saved my life and I've been living with him for two years. I call him father because he cared for me."
"I see...that doesn't sound like the Viktor I know. But I won't disrespect him. So might I know the name of the next would be champion?" He asked.
"It's Reina, Reina Kissryil." She answered brightly.
"Hmmm...a lovely name. Well I'm Garen Crownguard a pleasure to meet you." He held out his hand to greet her with a handshake. Just looking at his palm she could she that his hand could easily swallow hers with effortless ease. But she shook his hand with her human hand.
Just then Garen spotted Irelia walking pass. "Good morning Lady Irelia, care for a sparring match?" He offered her. Irelia didn't notice Reina standing there and her face started to become upset again. She quickly hid her face behind her palms and rubbed her eyes. Incredibly keeping her composure she responded.
"Maybe some other time Sir Crownguard. I'm not here to train for today."
She gave a bow and continued walking. The moment Reina saw her face an image flashed in her mind. A clear image of that same woman standing in front of her with a bright and happy smile. It appeared like a flash but she clearly saw it. Reina held her chest with her human arm. Between pain and sadness she looked at the woman that continued to walk away from her without even looking back.
Reina than bowed to Garen and left him to train. Quickly making her way out of sight, back to the hallway she leaned against the wall. She was breathing heavily and holding her chest. She had no idea why she was feeling like that for someone she didn't know. She wondered if that woman was someone from her past before she lost her memories.
After a few seconds she decided not to think about it as such wasn't sure what to think. So she made her way to the cafeteria. Only having to walk for a few more minutes she finally made it there. Luckily the cafeteria only had a few people. Mostly summoners ate from there, the other champions had their own rooms and often made their own meals. Reina had to suffice with cafeteria food until she got her own room.
She would order something familiar and head back to the table. The image of the woman popped into her mind again. Her chest pain came back. She thought she needed to tell Soren about it before going to Lady Kolminye's quarters.
Reina made her way to Summoner Soren's office luckily after a few knocks the door opened on its own. She made her way inside and looked around. Again she was drawn to the Halbaerd with the intricate design along its blade and handle.
"I see you're interested in my father's weapon.". Soren surprised her from the corner of the room.
"Oh!" She was startled. "I saw the door open so I…"
"It's fine. I had a feeling you'd stop by." He responded as he took a massive book from one of the many shelves.
"How did you know I'd come by?" She asked curiously.
"...Call it intuition. So what can i help you with on this fine day, Lady Kissryil?" He asked as he walked to his chair.
"Well I've been meaning to ask about someone." She said. "I think her name was...Irelia?". She seemed unsure.
"Ah, The Will of the Blades." Soren admired. "What would you like to know about her?"
"Who is she?" She asked. "This morning I saw her. She looked right at me...she seemed sad like she was crying. Then my chest got tight. I saw an image of her in my head. She was smiling at me...she was happy." She explained.
Soren listened attentively, he could hear the uneasiness in her voice but her expression showed desire. "Did Lady Irelia approach you at all?" He asked.
"No, she didn't. Put it felt like she was trying to avoid me." She replied.
"Irelia is the captain of the guard in Ionia. She is a powerful fighter, and her respect and kindness towards people is unrivaled. Irelia fought off the Noxians practically by herself in the war. Saving her land from their tyranny."
"War?" She interrupted.
"Noxus invaded Ionia seventeen years ago. To this day...they are still recovering." Soren went silent for a few seconds to honor the dead Ionians who fought. "Irelia with the Star Child's help fought off the noxians saving the island. Though i'm sure that many Ionians still hold grudges to this day."
At that time Reina held her head in her hand. Another memory came to her as he explained about the war. "I remember it now..my mother got sick because of the gas from the bombs."
"My condolences." Soren added.
"Thank you." She said. "I just wished I knew her more…"
"Your mother?" Soren asked.
"Yes. I remember that she died when I was very young, so I don't know her like I know Viktor or perhaps my real father."
Soren continued on about the war and Irelia. But chose not to say more than he should. "That's all I can tell you Reina. Should you wish to learn more about Lady Irelia, maybe you should ask her. I'm sure that she will try to accommodate."
"Has she ever turned down anyone from asking her questions before?" Reina asked curiously.
"Only once...though I'm sure she'll take the time to talk to she see's that you mean her no harm or folly she'll talk to you. Give her a chance to warm up to you."
After a few more minutes Reina was leaving the office. "Oh and about your room. Let me see the map I gave you." Soren scribbled the location of Reina permanent residence on the map along with the location of Irelia's quarters.
With an appreciative thank you she headed straight for Irelia's chambers, hoping that the Captain of the Guard would be there. She was eager to learn if Irelia was indeed part of her past. On her way to Irelia's quarters she begins to think on everything happened until now. Her mind drifts off to her mother. She didn't know much about her, She didn't remember her mother's personality, her voice, she couldn't even remember what she looked like. This made her sad or even uneasy, she wanted to know her family, she wanted to know her past. What really happened before she lost her memories? This is what she craved the most, the time she had lost, the forgotten memories. Irelia could tell her everything that happened up to that point.
Reina nearly walked passed the door to Irelia's quarters when she finally snapped back to reality. She turned and looked at the entrance. The door had the etchings on the room's owner engraved in Rune language, it had an interesting design on in as well, the door seemed to have a design that looked like a strange weapon. Moving past the ramblings of her questioning past that even the council does not know she knocks on the door and waited.
Nothing, no sound, just quiet. She knocked again, a little harder this time only to hear a faint voice.
"Be right there...give me a minute to get dressed." The voice called out.
After another minute or so the door is opened with Irelia looking through. The look on Irelia's face changed instantly upon seeing Reina standing there looking a little dejected. Thoughts crossed in Irelia's mind. 'Should I turn her away? Or should I bare the pain of seeing this copy of my dead friend once again.'
'No...Reina is dead. This...abomination is Viktor's sick joke to get inside me head, I should turn her away.' Just as soon as Irelia was getting ready to close the door in Reina's face Reina held the door open with her Hextech arm. Irelia struggled, she didn't realize how strong Reina was. If she had continued to fight the girls grip the door may have been ripped off it's hinges.
"Go…"
"Please don't send me away…" Reina said, interrupting her.
Reina looked at Irelia, clearly Irelia could see that she was also in pain and wanted answers of some kind. Reina held her chest with her human hand, she clenched a fist in her chest, face red as she tries to think of what to say.
"I...my name is Reina, Reina Kissryil. I...I don't know how to say this but. I feel like I know you, I don't know how that is possible, but I've had dreams, images and visions in my head showing me your face, your smile, your kindness. My chest hurts, just thinking about who you are to me. So please...don't send me away, allow me time to talk to you...I...I need to know who you are, please." She begged.
Irelia was crying on the inside, not only had she convinced herself that this girl was nothing more that a joke from Viktor, but it hurt her even more to think that if this is truly the Reina she helped raise, then she had lost all her memories of the times they spent together. This tore Irelia inside, just the thought of that made her feel insignificant. Like all her hard work at protecting Reina and being the best friend she could for both her and her father was nothing more than a waste of time. She amazingly enough, kept her composure and let out a sigh.
"Why do you have that name? Was that the name Viktor gave you?" She asked sternly. She was still suspicious, she needed confirmation.
"My name? No that was the name my family gave me before…" She stopped.
"Before what?" Irelia pushed.
"Before my family died. It's the name I was born with." She replied with some confidence.
"And who are your parents?" Irelia asked with a semi-threatening tone.
"I…" Reina was taken back by her tone, though she knew that Irelia obviously had a grudge against Viktor. "I don't know who my family is…"
Irelia's mouth dropped slightly. "I lost my memories, last thing I remember is waking up in a lab with Viktor standing over me...he is my father now. Though deep down, I know that before that I had a family...a friend, a home. But I can't remember, I can't remember any of it. That's why I came here. I feel like I know you, and if talking to you can reveal my lost memories, then that's a chance I'm going to take."
Irelia could feel her determination, but most importantly, she could feel like this IS Reina, this IS the woman that died two years ago, this is her best friend. Irelia couldn't hold it in anymore. She throw her arms around Reina, embracing her tightly as tears escaped her eye lids. Reina could feel her tears against her shoulder as they ran down her human arm. Reina was surprised by her sudden change of emotion. But she too hugged her, she felt like she needed to, and with that Irelia let her inside.
Irelia put on an extra cup of water for Reina as she waited on the very comfortable couch i the small living room. After brewing a cup of Sakura tea, Irelia took a seat opposite Reina, she often sat close to her window overlooking the beautiful gardens where the portal to the Councilors chambers were.
"It's been two years since I last saw you, Reina." She said as she sipped her tea with a delighted expression. Reina could tell that she really liked that flavor of Tea.
"Two years?" She questioned.
"Yes, the last time I saw you, I saw you off as you were traveling on a boat to Piltover for a performance in Demacia." Irelia told her.
Reina thought to herself...why was she going to perform in Demacia, and what was she going to perform doing. "Why was I going to perform in Demacia? I...don't remember."
Irelia retracted herself. "I'll get to that later, ask me anything you;d like to know I doubt I can't fill in the blanks on what happened on the boat that you left on as I wasn't with you, but I can maybe help you on everything that happened before that."
The sun was setting, it was coming close to night 's memories returned to those times when she was together with Reina. She remembered her father, her home, her country all of it. Though one thing still bothered her. She couldn't remember the murder, the man that killed her father and almost killed her. The boat sinking, she couldn't remember that. It was almost as if something was blocking her from remembering. Like a barrier around her memories, she found it strange that she could remember so much about her life before she met Viktor but not remember the boat incident. Was she subconsciously blocking out that particular memory or was it something else. These thoughts rattled on in her brain, until she decided to sleep on it.
She got up from the couch, she had to go to Lady Kolminye's quarters before the sun had set. Irelia decided to walk her to the good ladies room they chatted more along the way. Irelia refrained from telling Reina about Viktor, she figured that she wouldn't want to leave a bad impression on the girl as Viktor was basically her father. She knew that the two of them were close, though she could never trust Viktor, he DID bring her back to life or at least kept her alive. She decided that Reina should find out information about Viktor herself rather than hearing it from her mouth. Irelia lead her friend down the nearly darkened hallways to lady Kolminye's room.
(In a dark room somewhere)
The room was black and barely lit. A figure sits in a chair looking into a mirror that seemed to glow with dark energy. The mirror showed Reina walking with Irelia as she smiles and laughs. The figure smiled in the darkness, seemingly delighted.
"You survived I see. Good! I can feel the dark corruption stirring within you. You shall become the one...the one to bring the destruction of the institute."
The figure laughed evilly in the darkness as he looked at Reina's happy face in the mirror. What schemes did he have for such an innocent girl.