Very sorry for the long delay! I've had trouble finding time to write, but I should be in the clear for a while. Enjoy!
Kennen began to get slightly annoyed with his unresponsive friend and prodded his leg with his foot. "What is it, Teemo?" He asked, a slight edge to his voice.
Teemo's mouth hung open as he tried to summon the courage to say it. He had not expected this and he secretly criticized himself for not recalling such a massive detail sooner.
"Oh dear, Kennen…I'm not sure how to tell you this." Teemo spoke slowly, his voice panged and quiet.
The realization began to set in and Kennen shook his head. Slowly, he inched his way out of his seat, giving Teemo a look of disbelief.
Teemo raised a hand, beckoning him to stay but before he could speak, the purple-clad yordle had dashed out of the tavern.
"I-…Kennen, wait!" Teemo yelled out after him, causing the tavern to grow quiet.
"Damn!" Teemo cursed under his breath before giving a deep sigh. He scanned the tavern, only to see that all eyes were currently on him. "Sorry folks…carry on." He mumbled before quickly making for the exit, giving Meeks a brief apologetic glance as he left.
The light outside told Teemo that it was nearing the late afternoon. Good, not too late, he thought to himself. He had no doubts as to wear Kennen was headed. With this knowledge, he sprinted down the road.
"It couldn't be true…It just couldn't be." Kennen thought to himself as he ran.
Despite not having lived in Bandle City for over a decade, he could never forget the way home. His true home.
As he ran through the streets, the space between the buildings began to grow. Shops and aristocratic buildings began to look more residential, and the merchants and their patrons became fewer in number.
He stopped for a moment as he reached the edges of inner Bandle City and looked out over the vast expanse of farmlands before him.
His heart thumped quickly as he started sprinting once more. The road he was on now was one all too familiar and before another moment had passed, he had stopped in his tracks.
There it was. A small yellow cottage, seemingly unchanged from when he last left it. A gentle glow illuminated the window.
Kennen let out a gasp. "Teemo was wrong! The light's on! They're home! Was this his idea of a sick joke?" He said to himself in a desperate tone.
As he slowly approached the house, his thoughts grew more frantic. Kennen never knew Teemo to be the type of yordle to crack such a cruel joke at another's expense. Yet here the house stood! They had to be here. Safe and sound!
Kennen gave the door a few firm knocks, his hand shaking with anxiety and anticipation.
His heart sank as a rather young yordle woman opened the door. He had never seen this yordle before in his life.
"Is…there something I can help you with?" She asked, giving Kennen a slightly bewildered, yet friendly expression.
Kennen stared at her with a quivering lip, the skin under his fur turning pale.
"Sir? Are you okay?" The yordle asked, her face shifting to a more worried expression.
Kennen shook his head and began to step away from the door. "I'm sorry, I…I must have the wrong house. I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" He whispered before turning back toward the road.
The woman watched the strange yordle leave the property before giving a shrug and closing the door.
Kennen walked in silence for what seemed like an hour before finally seating himself on a nearby boulder. He dipped his head down, hid himself under his arms, and began to sob.
It was nearing dusk now as Teemo walked down the road leading to the agricultural district of Bandle City.
"What a great fool I am for not realizing it sooner. Damnit all, I thought he knew…How could he not have known? Surely the Ionian government was aware that a civilian ship headed for Ionia had been sunk by Bilgewater raiders. Surely that information would have reached Kennen's ears by now?" Teemo shook his head, dismissing the thought as he arrived at the yellow cottage.
He gave the door a knock and put on the best smile he could muster.
The door opened and a young woman peaked her head out. Seeing that a Scout of the Mothership now stood on her porch—Captain Teemo, no less, she opened the door wide. "Good evening Captain…is there trouble?"
Teemo shook his head. He was used to being a popular face amongst the yordles of Rudynip Village. "No ma'am, not at all. I was just wondering if another yordle happened to stop by here earlier? I'm looking for him."
The yordle nodded. "Sure did. You just missed him actually. He seemed pretty lost to me. Last I saw, he was headed that way." She pointed down the road.
Teemo nodded and gave a salute. "Thank you ma'am, you have a good evening!"
Teemo gave a fervent sigh and began trotting down the road once more.
A short while had passed before Teemo stopped, just barely able to make out Kennen's silhouette on a boulder by the road. As he stepped closer, he could hear a steady whimper escape the yordle.
Teemo's ears fell as he approached. He stood over his friend for a moment before settling himself beside him. He carefully wrapped one hand around Kennen's shoulder.
"I'm so sorry Kennen…I thought you knew." Teemo whispered to him.
Kennen leaned into the arm, but did not respond, save for his persistent sobs.
The two sat in silence for a long while before Kennen spoke.
"How did they…you know…" He said in a quiet, broken voice.
Teemo furrowed his brows. "They were…traveling to Ionia, Kennen." He paused and glanced to Kennen, giving him time to digest everything he said. "A Bilgewater raiding fleet attacked and sacked the ship…there were no survivors." He gave another pause before continuing. "We here in Bandle City honored everyone that was lost, especially your parents. I even got word that a Piltover Destroyer intercepted the raiding fleet and sunk the vessel responsible."
Kennen lifted his head and looked back to Teemo, a teary-eyed scowl upon his face.
"I never should have left Bandle City. I never should have left my family…I never should have left my friends…I never should have left you, Teemo." He mumbled before dipping his head back down, falling into another sobbing fit.
Teemo squeezed his friend and shook his head. "Don't say that Kennen, this isn't your fault. You had a destiny to fulfill in Ionia, you know this…We all knew this. This isn't your fault."
Kennen sniffled and rubbed his nose before suddenly rising to his feet, his blood-shot eyes looking down to Teemo. "I…need to speak with Shen and Akali about this. I'm sorry Teemo."
He hopped down from the boulder and walked onto the street before looking over his shoulder. "Thank you for telling me…I just need to be alone for a while."
Teemo nodded slowly, a look of empathy on his face. "Sure, Kennen. I understand." He said softly. "I'll see you at the second half of the summit meeting tomorrow…right?"
Kennen nodded, giving the yordle a half smile before making his way back down the road, toward City Hall.
Teemo kept his eye on Kennen until he was out of sight before plopping back down onto the boulder with a grunt. He looked up to the setting sun in the east, a brilliant display of blue and pink, and gave a sigh.
The journey back to City Hall felt aimless to Kennen. Though Bandle City was a lively scene even after nightfall, Kennen was much too engulfed in his own thoughts to enjoy it. Outside of taverns and along the city streets, yordles idly laughed and chattered away. Kennen thought back to the Kinkou Monestary, the enclave where he took residence in Ionia. Though he had grown quite fond of it, it couldn't hold a candle to Bandle City. Nothing could.
The thought was quickly replaced with reflections on the day's events and he couldn't help but feel a strong pang of guilt. His duty was to uphold the balance in all of Valoran, yet so rarely did he leave Ionia during his time with the Kinkou. He couldn't help but let the consequences of his choice manifest in the form of self-blame. After all, if he hadn't left Bandle City, none of this would have happened.
Another thought suddenly crossed his mind…
Why hadn't he heard about his parent's death? A civilian vessel, destined for Ionia is sacked by Bilgewater raiders, yet news of the attack never reached him? Such an event would be the talk of every city and province in Ionia…
With his gaze cast downward and a brooding look on his face, he entered the ambassadorial quarters of City Hall. Shen and Akali were seated at a nearby table, as if expecting him.
Akali smiled at Kennen. "You return! How was your visit?"
Kennen noted a strange edge to her voice. He did not respond immediately, his gaze shifting briefly to Shen, who seemed just as inscrutable as always.
"I've come to learn something I'd wished I hadn't..." Kennen began. His voice was course and gravely, a fact that did not elude Shen, who still remained silent.
However, Akali's expression seemed to betray her as her face took on a sympathetic frown.
"That my parents were murdered by Bilgewater raiders…" Kennen said and paused for a moment, his eyes starting to take on a glassy look. "On a voyage to Ionia…" He stammered, his gaze quickly falling back to the floor.
Shen finally broke his silence and gave a tender sigh. "I should have known bringing him here was a mistake…" He muttered, before slowly rising to his feet.
Akali gave him a scolding look. "Shen!" She said in a chastising tone.
Kennen perked up and looked to the two, his mouth agape in disbelief. "Wait…You knew? Both of you...?"
Akali's displeased look only grew, yet Shen seemed as unnervingly calm as ever. He slowly approached Kennen, bent down to one knee, and placed a hand on the yordle's shoulder, before speaking with a trademarked sternness.
"It was in the best interest of the Kinkou that we waited to tell you. Such news for a yordle would be… compromising. We couldn't risk the stability of the Triumvirate. Kennen, I have faith that you will understand the importance of that decision…it is merely unfortunate that you found out this way. It was a mistake on our part for bringing you to this place. For that, we apologize."
Kennen suddenly struck the hand on his shoulder aside and stared up at Shen, a livid glare in his eyes. "You knew…this whole time." He growled between clinched teeth.
Shen did not seem phased by the strike, only rising to his feet and taking a step back. Akali attempted to approach Kennen, who shot a hand up in protest. "Don't!" Kennen yelled.
Shen spoke in a steady voice. "Calm yourself, Kennen…do not let your emotions get-..."
"No! This is…unforgivable!" Kennen cried out. "Staying in Ionia was a mistake…I see that now. I left everything that I loved for the Kinkou! And for what? To sit in a temple, learning dogmatic teachings while the last of my true family dies in vain!" Kennen barked, tears now flowing down his face.
Akali and Shen were deadly silent. Akali held a look of shame while Shen, even still, held an enigmatic expression.
"You say it was a mistake to bring me here…But you know what I think? I think it was meant to be. Returning back to Bandle City has made me realized what I've truly missed all these years." Kennen paused, wiping away the tears from his face with his sleeve.
Akali spoke quietly. "What are you saying, Kennen?"
"I'm staying in Bandle City…for good." He muttered with a seething breath.
Shen and Akali exchanged glances with each other before the former spoke up. "You swore an oath to the Kinkou, Kennen. We all did. By that principle, you are bound by Ionian law." Shen spoke in a dour tone.
"Kennen, this is not a decision that should be made lightly. The Triumvirate will fall without you. You know this." Akali chimed, though her voice was much less dispassionate than Shen's.
Kennen couldn't stand to meet their gaze. They were right…but that meant very little to him now. His voice cracked some as he spoke. "Then so be it. I renounce my rites as the Heart of the Tempest…and all responsibilities that come with it. I am Ionian no more...I never was." Kennen practically hissed the last part.
A heavy silence overcame the three. Kennen stared at his feet while Akali and Shen registered what Kennen has just said.
"…So be it." Shen echoed. "I have faith that you will see the folly in this choice Kennen…therefore I will give you an ultimatum. After the summit meeting tomorrow morning, Akali and I will be returning to Ionia. If you do not join us, then you will have made your choice clear."
Akali remained silent as Shen spoke. As much as she wanted to protest his words and beg for Kennen to reconsider, they were both, by the rites of the Kinkou, her equals. Shen, being the voice of the Kinkou, was merely expressing a generosity he rarely showed to others. She could not blame him for that. Nor, in all honesty, could she blame Kennen for making such a decision.
Kennen looked back up to Shen and Akali, nodding once. After another brief moment of silence, he opened the door to the quarters and exited the room.
Akali gave a frustrated sigh and made for the door, only to find herself stopped by Shen's extended arm.
"Leave him, Akali. This is his choice." Shen turned to his companion. "This will be a fitting test of his devotion to the Kinkou. If by tomorrow, he has not reconsidered…" Shen trailed off for a moment before continuing. "Then we will have our answer."
The conflict in Akali's eyes were evident. "You dwell so much on what you think is best for the Kinkou…yet so little on what is best for Kennen. I hope you know what you are doing…" Akali said. She gave Shen a pointed look before walking to her chambers.
Shen merely gave a heavy sigh and seated himself in a nearby chair before closing his eyes in meditation.
Kennen reentered the dark streets of Bandle City with a somber look on his face. Quietly, he approached a guard standing idly by a nearby lamppost.
"Pardon me...could you direct me to the residence of Captain Teemo?" Kennen asked, his voice still broken and strained from earlier.
The guard pointed down the road leading to the eastern reaches of Bandle City. "A mile straight, last house on the left. Best be quick about it! There's a storm comin'!" The guard piped, giving Kennen a stiff look.
Kennen nodded in thanks before making his way down the road. His ears twitched as he heard the soft rumble of thunder in the distance.
I should have the next chapter up fairly soonish! (Definetly not three weeks this time!)