Chapter 2

As he neared the bottom of the mountain range, Ezreal heard some commotion off in the distance. At first he didn't know where it was coming from or even what it was, but as he got farther down the mountain he was able to pinpoint the noise. It was coming from behind a large ridge and it sounded like two armies fighting each other.

Curiosity was too much for Ezreal and he decided to find out the exact cause of the strange noise. He stayed low and crept up the ridge making sure not to cause any unneeded noise. He didn't want to alert anyone to his presence. If it was something dangerous he wanted to be able to leave as easily as he came.

Arriving atop the ridge, Ezreal hid within some bushes. He quickly realized he was correct in hearing the sound of armies fighting. He watched in amazement as a Demacian patrol tried to fight off a rather large platoon of Noxus soldiers. It was clear that the Demacian patrol was easily outnumbered and was slowly losing this fight. Ezreal thought it was odd that such a large Noxus army was this deep into Demacian grounds. The thought didn't last long as the fighting suddenly stopped. The Noxus soldiers had completely surrounded the remnants of the Demacian patrol and had forced the survivors into a small circle within the middle of the Noxus forces.

Within a few seconds, a rather grim looking man stepped forward out of the Noxus ranks and towards the Demacian circle. Ezreal ascertained that this was the Noxus general that ran this specific company. He began to speak to the Demacian's with purpose mocking them for their quick defeat.

"Well, well, well look at what we have here," the Noxus general said as he paced back and forth between the two armies. He had sheathed his sword and his dark armor gleamed in the sun.

"So much for fighting to your last breath," he continued mockingly.

"We are merely in a better formation," one of the Demacian soldiers replied. Each solider within the Demacian circle was still at the ready with their shields in front and swords poking out between.

"Bring your men, we will cut them down," the Demacian soldier continued with hatred in his voice.

The Noxus general gave off a hard laugh and continued to prod the Demacian forces stating that they were clearly outnumbered and were in no place to offer threats.

The Noxus general continued to berate the Demacian's and it was obvious to Ezreal that he was playing with them as a cat did with a trapped mouse.

As he was watching the spectacle, Ezreal caught something out of the corner of his eye. Looking over there was some sort of shadow behind the Noxus forces which was almost completely out of sight. Ezreal slowly adjusted his position so that he could examine what exactly he was looking at, but also being mindful not to be seen.

As he got a better look, Ezreal noticed that the shadow was actually a man who was watching the events just as he was. However, this man was not trying to be hidden rather he was just standing in the back.

This man was different than the rest. He was slightly older evidenced by the wrinkles upon his face and on his bald head. Only his furrowed brow and gleaming eyes could be seen as it appeared bandages were wrapped across the lower part of his face completely covering his mouth. He was slender and Ezreal could tell the bandages continued down his torso as far as he could see. The strangest part of this man, however, was the rather large tank that was attached to his back. Because of the man's age, Ezreal merely thought this was an oxygen tank; however something about this didn't seem right. He was stoic while standing clearly in the back of the Noxus soldiers and Ezreal couldn't help but think that this was the guy who was actually in charge.

Suddenly chills shot down Ezreal's spine as the man looked in his direction. Ezreal immediately ducked his head down behind the tall brush.

Did he see me? Ezreal thought to himself in a panic.

What do I do? Alright I am just going to give one peek, one quick peek. Maybe he was just looking over my head at something on the mountain.

Ezreal slowly lifted his head back out of the brush in order to get a better look. He froze as he was met by the same chilling gaze from the man. He had never quit looking in this direction and was merely waiting for Ezreal to show himself again. This time Ezreal couldn't look away as the man had clearly seen him. They locked eyes for what seemed like hours before the man simply returned his attention back to his general who was still taunting the Demacians.

Ezreal's heart was beating so fast he thought it was going to pop out of his chest. This guy had clearly seen him, but instead of alerting someone he was merely ignored. Flabbergasted by this, the only sense Ezreal could comprehend was that this man did not feel threatened in the slightest by his presence.

Just as Ezreal decided that he had seen enough and had decided to leave, Ezreal heard the Noxus general yell, "Show them what happens when you mess with Noxus!"

The Noxus soldiers began to cheer and jeer hoisting their weapons above their heads as the general made his way back to the crowd. The Demacians had pulled their ranks in even closer making a solid circle of shields and swords readying themselves for the impending attack.

The Noxus soldiers did not charge, but instead began to part as if letting something through their ranks. Ezreal looked back towards where the older man had been standing, but he was gone. Frantically, Ezreal searched the crowd for the man and quickly saw that he was the one making his way through his soldiers.

The man came to a rest at the same spot the Noxus general had been standing, but did not say a single word. He only stared with the same chilling gaze that Ezreal had seen only moments before. After what seemed like an eternity, the man finally began to pull on the straps that held the giant tank securely on his back. All without breaking his stare, he removed the tank and sat it firmly on the ground. The Noxus soldiers grew wilder and Ezreal could see that the tank was definitely not filled with oxygen. Rather it was filled with some green chemical that bubbled within the tank.

Ezreal watched as the man filled two large, glass containers with the green liquid and held them up as if examining them. Without warning, the man threw both containers at the Demacian soldiers which shattered immediately on impact covering the soldiers from head to toe. The Demacian's immediately dropped their weapons and clutched their bodies as they screamed and writhed in pain.

Ezreal's eyes grew wide with horror as the green liquid fumed around the soldiers tearing them apart and melting parts of their skin away from the bone. The screams could easily be heard for miles, but Ezreal couldn't tear his gaze away.

Without any remorse, the man strapped his tank back on his back and turned to walk towards the cheering Noxus soldiers. As he walked, the man suddenly turned to look directly at Ezreal once again. Ezreal stared back, but this time it was different. The man stared at Ezreal only diverting his gaze once he was lost back within the crowd. Ezreal got the strange feeling that the man wanted him there. It was as if the man needed a witness to his atrocities and Ezreal was just the man for the job.

The Noxus soldiers quickly followed their leader and disappeared out of sight. Figuring that he was safe, Ezreal stood up to get a better look at what had become of the unfortunate Demacians. To his surprise, the soldiers had quit screaming, but instead remained standing and hunched over with their armor still hanging on their severely damaged bodies. Some of the soldiers aimlessly shuffled around while others remained motionless. Their weapons littered the ground around them as they didn't seem to be important any longer.

Just before Ezreal was about to make his way down the ridge, he heard horses in the distance which were gaining fast on his location. Ezreal retreated back to his hiding place just before eight men arrived on horseback stopping as they reached the injured Demacian scout group.

Without hesitation, a large warrior in full armor jumped down from his horse and began to approach the scout group who still hadn't reacted to this new arrival. It was apparent to Ezreal that these men belonged to Demacia as well and had heard the screams. The man, who was obviously in charge of these nights on the horses, was rather large and had an impressive sword draped across his back. Ezreal felt as though he knew this man, but couldn't exactly place his finger on it.

"General, report!" the knight said as he approached the scout group without fear. The sting of the green chemical still hung in the air.

No one from the scout group replied or even reacted to the knight's presence, so the knight said again, "General what happened here? Report!"

The knight was standing directly in front of one of the Demacian scouts who merely stood hunched over at the waist. The knight stood trying to discern the situation while placing his hand on the hunched solider. As Ezreal watched this interaction, he quickly realized who this knight was.

That's Garen! Ezreal thought to himself. The Might of Demacia.

Ezreal had heard stories all his life about Garen and his prowess on the battlefield. He was the best warrior Demacia ever had. Judging by the size of the sword on his back Ezreal could easily see why he had this title.

Ezreal's attention snapped back and he watched as Garen suddenly turned away from the solider and towards his knights. Immediately, the Demacian scout gave out a violent lurch and stood straight up. It wasn't until now that Ezreal could see exactly what the green liquid had done to these soldiers. Most of the soldier's skin had either been burned off or was extremely disfigured, but he moved as if he didn't feel it at all. His armor was still gripping to the remaining skin and bone, but hung as if oversized. It was as if the soldier's body was present, but the soldier had long died and a violent shell had been left in his place.

Something in Ezreal told him that the solider was about to attack Garen, so he darted from his hiding place.

Simultaneously sliding down the ridge and readying his arm, Ezreal yelled, "Garen look out!"

Taken aback by the yell, Garen quickly turned towards the now fast moving Ezreal, but didn't notice the soldier until it was too late. The soldier had launched itself at Garen, gnashing its teeth and flinging its arms. It had fixed its grip around one of Garen's large arms and was poised to take a bite.

Right before the soldier's mouth contacted Garen's skin, a bolt of energy caught it in the side sending it careening back to the ground.

Garen stared stunned at the now lifeless soldier who had easily been cut in half by Ezreal's bolt. As he looked back towards Ezreal, Garen yelled, "You just attacked a Demacian soldier! Arrest him!"

Before Garen's knights could reach Ezreal, the remaining burned scouts attacked, swarming everyone within seconds. Garen and his knights reacted swiftly cutting down their former comrades with ease. The green liquid had obviously weakened their bodies as no resistance was given to the attacks from Garen and his knights. Ezreal merely watched the spectacle finding it hard to believe what was conspiring in front of him.

Once the scouts had been defeated, Ezreal watched as Garen merely stood in the middle of the carnage. Ezreal could tell that Garen was in deep pain after having to cut down his own warriors. Garen stood silently for a few moments before reaching down towards the ground. As Garen rubbed the soil between his fingers, Ezreal could tell Garen knew something had been used to corrupt his soldiers.

"You!" Garen boomed pointing at Ezreal.

Ezreal froze before Garen spoke again, "You obviously know what happened here. You are coming with us. Seize him!"

Garen's knights once again closed in on Ezreal who was backing against the ridge. Ezreal looked to his side and saw the open field where the Noxus soldiers had disappeared to.

"Sorry, not today boys," Ezreal quipped as he quickly disappeared from in front of the Demacian knights.

Garen watched as Ezreal reappeared in the field far enough from the reach of his knights. Ezreal laughed as he ran looking back over his shoulder at the stunned knights. He was in the clear. Nothing stood between him and freedom.

All of the sudden Ezreal couldn't move at all. It was as if someone had frozen him to the very ground under his feet. He panicked. Even if he had enough energy to teleport again he didn't think it would actually get him out of whatever had him ensnared.

Suddenly, a tall man appeared next to Ezreal holding out a staff with a bright purple crystal on its top and had it pointed in his direction. He was an older man with a slightly wrinkled face and long white hair. He wore a long red robe that was adorned with intricate armor. A hat rested on his head to indicate he was a powerful magi of Demacia. Ezreal figured out quickly that this was his captor.

In no time Garen and his knights had caught up to Ezreal's location unfazed by this new person.

"Karthas, whatever did we do to earn the honor of your presence?" Garen said to the mage rather snidely.

"Doing your job I suppose, Garen," Karthas retorted. "I seemed to have captured your criminal for you."

"I'm no criminal!" Ezreal quickly yelled.

"He is our….witness," Garen responded. "We need to take him back to Demacia for questioning. He was the only one who saw what happened to our scouting group."

Karthas looked over Garen's shoulder at what was once the scouting group which now laid in pieces strewn across the field. Ezreal noticed how it didn't seem to faze Karthas one bit. No hint of sadness was in his voice.

"I see," Karthas replied. "It appears nothing more than your scout group met with a stronger force than they. These things happen, Garen."

Obviously offended by Karthas' patronizing tone, Garen said, "Something out of the ordinary occurred here and we are taking this boy back to Demacia."

Ezreal thought about spilling everything that he had witnessed, but something told him that was unwise at this point. Though he wasn't too sure about Garen yet, his gut told him not to trust Karthas. Something about him wasn't right and though he wasn't positive Garen wouldn't harm him, Ezreal was almost sure that Karthas would without hesitation.

Karthas narrowed his gaze and stared at Garen before releasing Ezreal from his imprisonment. Karthas pushed Ezreal towards Garen with a sneer.

"Why are you even here, Karthas?" Garen asked as if hit with a realization.

"Official business. You wouldn't understand," Karthas replied. "You have your witness now back to Demacia."

With obvious anger Garen steered Ezreal back towards his knights. Before he climbed back onto his horse, Garen pulled out a pair of handcuffs and placed them around Ezreal's wrists.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa I thought I was only a witness. What's with the cuff's Sheriff?" Ezreal quickly and sarcastically said.

"You are," Garen replied. "But I can't risk losing you to your disappearing act again."

"These cuffs will see to that," Garen said as he hoisted Ezreal onto the back of his horse and clamped a chain that traveled from the cuffs down to the horse's saddle.

Garen turned back to Karthas, but he was gone. He had disappeared like the wind with no one being the wiser.

"Creepy old man," Garen said under his breath before climbing back on his horse.

"To Demacia, men! With haste!" Garen commanded towards his knights who, within an instant, took off towards the valiant city.

After a few minutes of riding, Ezreal said, "A thank you would be nice at least."

"Thank you? For what?" Garen responded.

"For saving you," Ezreal said matter-of-factly. "I totally cut down that burned soldier before it turned your arm into a snack."

"My armor would have protected me," Garen quickly retorted.

"Guess we will never know. Glad you are so confident in it," Ezreal replied.

"I am," Garen retorted.

Ezreal rolled his eyes and watched as the trees passed by and allowed the wind to brush his face. He had almost tuned out the world around him before he heard Garen speak again.

"Thank you," Garen said softly without another word. Ezreal merely smiled and decided to enjoy the trip the best he could.

It didn't stop him from trying to wrap his head around everything. What was supposed to be an easy exploration mission has now turned into him being in cuffs. And who was the creepy bandaged guy with the strange liquid? Maybe Garen would know more about it, because all he knew now was that he was at least on the fast track to Demacia and getting his new treasure appraised. There's always a silver lining to everything.