Shuriman Policy 2

Part 2 – Azir

I awaken from my dream very suddenly, and upon recollection I find myself unable to process what I had actually been dreaming about. Forgetting dreams had always been something that annoyed me, how something you had just seen so clearly is lost and scattered like grains of sand in an expansive desert, but this time was even more furstrating seeing as the last nightmare I had seemed to be some sort of information about my past. I stretch my arms, yawn, and hear a few satisfying pops before standing up. I look through a small window located in my room and see it was still quite early, the sun just beginning to rise into the sky. As I prepare to step out into the hall to locate Nasus, I notice a small package as well as a note in front of the entrance to my room. I gently pick up the package and notice that the note has Nasus's name on it. I toake it over to my bed and sit down before reading the note.

'Sorry for the short notice, little one, but I have fashioned some more suitable clothing than the rags I had previously left you with. I fashioned these partially from the tattered clothes you arrive here with, and a few leather scraps I was able to find lying around. These are still far from acceptable but they should do a better job at protecting you from the harsh, sandy winds you may find in and around the area of Shurima. I've also taken great care to making these garments seem 'authentic' in terms of design to the traditional Shuriman citizens. Think of it as a welcoming present!

I hope it pleases you,

Nasus'

I couldn't help but smile, Nasus didn't have to do this for me, But I was greatful that he did. I remove the loincloth portion of my underwear and take time learning how to put on the clothing. It was designed to hug the body pretty well, and I was quite glad to discover that it was a short sleeved garment. With my new, yet old, outfit fully equipped I head out into the hall to find Nasus.

"Just stay calm, and don't give him any reason to doubt you. Think about what you say and don't contradict yourself, no matter how small it is." Nasus is silent for a few moments. "Oh! And compliment him as often as it seems within normal and viable bondaries. He gets quite weak at the knees to be confirmed that he is indeed the Emperor after going so long without having desciples to bow to his every whim."

I smile, "Alright, I'll keep that in mind, Nasus." I say, still a little unsure. He told me to stay calm but I had a hard time keeping it together. I was getting so nervous! Was Azir really this hard to truly please? What if he judges me too harshly? What if he asks a question I'm not prepared for? How am I going to get through this?

All three of us gather in the throne room. Azir, having come from a different entrance that was situated closer to the elaborate throne, takes a graceful seat at the throne. Two soliders rising from the ground to stand beside him in a defensive position. There is a long carpet that extends from the entrace of the room all the way to his sacred throne, and I can't help but feel a little silly about how cliché all of this seemed. We all walk at a leisurely pace towards him until we are stood about 10 feet away. The two soliders step forward to stop us, but after a moment I realize that these soldiers aren't even real, they're made of sand!

"Halt there!" says Azir in a powerful voice. "It has come to my attention that you desire to live in the mighty kingdom of Shurima. On what authority do you have to make such a request?"

I look to my left and see that Nasus has stepped away from me, instead moving to stand besides Azirs throne. I wouldn't have any help here. "W-well…" I begin to say, but remember from Nasus that I must stay confident. "I-I feel like this palce is a better home than I could have ever had before! I-I can't remember anything about my past life… what I was… who I was… I don't even remember my name, Your Excellence."

Azir wiggles slightly, a rather weird gesture. I can see Nasus turn his head away from Azir slightly and smile a bit, suppressing a laugh. Did he wiggle because I called him 'Your Excellence'? Maybe I was wrong about him not being easy to please. Maybe he just has certain things he wants to hear.

The questioning continues on in this manner, him trying to prod me for information about my past, to try and prove that I truly had no memories of my past. Once he seems satisfied he leans back in his throne and crosses one of his scaley legs over his knee.

"I see… well, I see no issue in accepting your voluntary request to become a citizen of Shurima." Azir says, looking towards Nasus. "However, Nasus… I want you to train him."

A look of slight surprise crosses Nasus's face. "Oh? And what would I be training him, Your Highness?" Nasus says. This time I find myself having to surpress my laughter due to Azirs slight squirming in place. "I'm not sure what you'd want me to teach him."

After Azir calms down a bit, he folds his feathered hands together and leans forward a bit. "He needs to be trained in combat, and combat tactics. If he's going to live in Shurima he has to fight in the Shuriman way. He'll also need to be taught basic education if he lacks certain skills, something of which I'm sure you'll be able to do."

"I'm not a teacher anymore, Azir." Nasus says.

"And that wasn't a request, Nasus." Azir says, his soldiers of sand tensing up a bit. "It's an order, and I expec t it to be carried out." He turns back to me. "Welcome to Shurima, it is customary for newborns without names to be named by the Emporer himself. I think the same can apply here. Your name from henceforth shall be… Elrick."

I nod and stand up to leave, Nasus rests his hand on my shoulder and walks along with me, congradulating me as we walk out of the throne room, we both decide to head towards the Great Library, to get the teaching curriculum figured out.

'The origins of the Sun Disc have all been lost to time, some say that the Sun Disc has been here since the bery beginning, while others claim it was created by an incredibly powerful sorcerer. From what we know of its power, however, we imagine that the Sun Disc was created by one of the first Shuriman Summoners near the beginning of the second Era, during a great famine.

The Sun Disc has the unique property to transfrom life, and create literal Gods. The process is known as Ascension, and the only known to exists at the time of writing is the wise scholar named Nasus.'

This book must be pretty old. There are quite a few ascended beings known to exist about now. Nasus, Renekton, Azir, and Xerath. This book only even mentions Nasus. But man, I had a hard time believing that the Butcher of the Sands himself was related to Nasus. I wonder where he lives?

"Once you're done studying the history of the Sun Disc I can teach you safety procedures about getting near the Sun Disc." He smiles a bit, "Also, you've read quite a bit of it already, haven't you?"

I nod, it was a good book, there was a lot of knowledge to be gained from this book and I wanted to learn as much as I could about this place.

"Hey Nasus?"

"Yes, little one?"

"This book says at the time of it's writing that you were the only known ascended being to exist in Runeterra. Why is that? Isn't Azir ascended too?"

Nasus takes a deep breath and sits down besides me, petting my head softly, which seemed pretty backwards seeing as he looked like an oversized dog. "Azir was a special case. It was ascended but… he was also locked away and sealed. Kind of like a sort of… hibernation. The same with Xerath and…" He takes a few moments to finish his sentence. "… Renekton."

"Is it true that… he's your brother?" I say, looking up at him.

"No… the shell that you may encounter these days may look like Renekton, but he is no longer my brother. His body has been consumed by an insane rage, thanks to the corruption of his mind brought forth by Xerath." He goes silent for a few moments again, I could feel the sadness in his voice. "The real Renekton is in here…" he points to his head. "In… my memories. But my brother, for all intents and purposes, is long dead. He died as soon as he was trapped with Xerath all those years ago."

I lean over towards him and give him a big hug, burying my face into his side, his armor felt cold against my cheek, but Nasus's arm hugged me closer in a thankful gesture of kindness. And I smiled.

"I wish I could have known Renekton, then." I say. "He seemed like a great guy."

"He was, and he'd be a better combat teacher than I could ever be. He was always the brawn, me the brain, but... Renekton was still brilliant in his own right."

I smile, I was seeing a side of Nasus I hadn't really seen before. He seemed happy. We continued talking about the other ascendeds, as well as the Sun Disc and what it means to ascend and how it works. At one point I asked him if I'd ever ascend, but… he just laughs and says that it's not all that it's cracked up to be. I smile and continue to read. I study with Nasus until sunset, and once that happens we find a nice dune and watch the sunset together over a meal. I've only been here for two days, and, I already feel like me and Nasus were good friends.

And on the inside I felt like Nasus needed a friend more than I ever did, but I was glad I was there to be that friend.