Chapter 18 - Trials
The dark gazes of the portraits on the walls made me feel uncomfortable, there was something about this castle that frightened me, I knew there was something strange living in this place, something ancient, further research showed me this was the epicenter of a terrible disaster many centuries ago, I could feel some incredible wicked magic nourishing the creature that dwelled this realm, I came here following Kalista, she said I needed to meet someone, someone really important in these Isles, I followed her through the giant halls, feeling the evil energy around me, we walked for 20 minutes at least until we stopped in front of a room, Kalista looked at me and feeling my fear she kissed me, making me feel a bit secure, she then knocked a few times and we stepped in...
The room was quite wide, it had a dim light, there weren't any portraits in the walls, there was only a big table in the middle of the room and a couch in front of it, the moment I stepped in I felt a strange aura from the couch, once I got close enough i realized there was someone sitting there, the figure was an adult man, he looked pretty old, I could feel some sort of authority, a king or something, but, at the same time I could feel...sadness, guilt and...death...
As I was scanning the figure in the couch something on the table caught my attention, there was a coffin in the table, I got closer and looked at it, there was a beautiful woman in it, there was something strange about her, she doesn't belong to this realm, I could tell, some powerful magic was tying her terrenal form in this world...What is this place? The denizens of the Shadow Isles seemed to avoid this castle at all cost... I wonder...
- My King - I heard her say - Your servant is back... - She finished kneeling down in front of the man.
- Kalista... - The man whispered - ...My child...I'm so sorry...I'm sorry...
- It's fine, My king, we didn't come here to torture you...we want you to meet someone special for us...
- Someone special for you? - the king asked puzzled.
- Our husband - She said signing me to get close.
The king looked at my direction and lifted his arm.
- Come here, child, I'm sorry but my vision is quite bad nowadays, allow me to touch you.
I fidgeted, I've heard the story behind this man, The Ruined King, The one whose actions cursed this Isles...the one responsible for this mess..., I heard he did everything in order to save his wife...humans...they are easily consumed by their feelings...but he was the paternal figure of Kalista... I guess I need to overcome this...I allowed him to touch my form...
- Curious... - He muttered - ...you are not a human, child, I've haven't met such creature in the past...What are you, child?
- My name is Vel'Koz, The eye of the Void, I...I am Kalista's Husband...or something like that...
- A monster - The king whispered - Yet, your soul...is pure...a noble creature...Tell me, Vel'Koz...What are you doing in this realm?
- I came here in order to study the humans...I'm trying to understand them...but there are many things I still need to learn...humans are a fascinating species...
- is that so?...a Scholar, my little Kalista married a scholar - The king chuckled - who would have thought? I always thought you and Hecarim had something.
-C..cease at once, my king! - Kalista said embarrassed - who would marry that stupid pony?
- If you can make that kind of face he must be a good man...my dear Kalista... - the king said caressing her head - ...I'm sorry I couldn't be there...I wanted to accompany you to the altar...I'm so sorry...
- it's fine, uncle, we understand - Kalista said lifting her head and looking at the king.
- My little Kalista..., my little girl...is now a woman, you've grown so much before my eyes...and I couldn't see...I was blind...consumed by my own foolishness...I failed to see you were there...I'm sorry, my dear child.
- Don't worry, uncle, we understand...at least now...I can understand your pain...
- Thank you, my child, You have my blessing - The king said smiling.
Kalista bowed one more time and signed me to leave.
- Wait - I heard the king said - Eye of the Void, there is something you must know.
- What is it?
- It's a warning, Eye of the Void, Stay away from Icathia...
- ...Excuse me? - I said turning around - I can't understand, What do you mean?
- I don't know myself, I can feel a strange power emanating from there, I can't really explain it's nature, but I'm sure of one thing...whatever is in there is waiting for you and your kind, you must never set foot in Icathia...all of you... Also, be careful... He is watching... He who dwells in the shadows... And whisper dark thought...
Icathia, yes, I remember that place, It's said the first portal to the void appeared there, several creatures before us destroyed the city, killing and consuming every living thing, Kog'Mah came to this world using that portal...why must I avoid Icathia? Is there some kind of treat for me and the other voidlings? if there I must hurry and exterminate it, I can't allow any sort of danger in my journey...but the king was extremely clear, we, the voidborns, must avoid Icathia...maybe I should discuss this with Cho'Gath...but I already know his answer...let's chomp it down...
But...
Who is he?
- Whatever is lurking in the darkness...It's watching you and your kind...be careful, child.
- I will keep it in mind, Ruined King.
- Good, now, be gone, Eye of the Void, and take care of my child...
- You are going to leave the Isles - Kalista said after a while.
- How did you know?
- We are your wife for a reason, we know you heart, there is something you must do in Valoran...We love you so we won't stop you...
- But...if I leave...
- We know...We...I can't leave the Isles...if you leave now I won't be able to follow you...I know...
I looked into Kalista's eyes...surprising...these were no longer hollow... I could see something inside of them...her soul...her original self...she was crying...Unexpected, Why would she cry just because I'm leaving? Peculiar, Vi didn't cry but Soraka did cry...Why are you crying? Is it because...You can't follow me...? Now that I think about it...I did promise to return to Piltover...And Soraka said she will be waiting for me there...Kalista, on the other hand, can't leave the Shadow Isles...She is cursed in this forsaken land...she is allowed to leave for a few moments...are you crying because you can't follow me? Why?...I still need to research this matter...
- come on - She whispered rubbing her eyes - I can't believe you haven't figured it out...
- What do you mean?
- I married a complete Airhead - She said giggling - But it's cute...
- What?
- Forget it - She said hugging m e- We will always be one, Husband, never forget it, even if I'm no longer by your side, I will always be with you...Always...
I looked at the sky, I couldn't really understand...what is this feeling in my belly? something feels...heavy...mortifying...it hurts...but there are no wounds...just what is this?...It feels...Human...
The ocean, once again, was endless, I was on the shore of The Shadow Isles, the white sand was out of place, considering there was a black forest full of undead creatures at my back, I scanned the horizon...which way was I supposed to go now? I knew I was in the Shadow Isles, now the only thing I needed was a...
- Altak kaye-sayu, Altak kaye-sayu, Altak kaye-sayu...
Danger, I turned around just in time to see a green thing struck my belly, the strange thing struck my chest, I felt like it was pulling something out of me, I tried to resist but grabbing the thing was impossible, I felt a sharp pain and then I was pulled and fell in the sand, suddenly everything was blurry, like if I was beneath the water, I looked back and forth, confused...
- Creature, your time has come, our mother demands a test for your will ... - A voice boomed.
What is this? Why is the world like this? It was normal a few moments ago...something pulled me out...but what could...? As I was trying to figure it out, something caught my attention...was that my body? yes...it was purple...three tentacles...a big eye in the middle...Curious...so that's why humans are afraid of me...my form was, indeed, frightening...but it was quite practical...well designed...but a few improvements can be done here and there...also...my current body...well, it was pretty much the same as my old one...just a bit more purple...
- Your spirit is held...take it if you can - the same voice boomed.
I felt something pulling me, I looked at my limbs and saw the same strange thing from earlier, a tentacle, this thing was pulling me into some sort of nest where it came from, more of those things came out and started pulling me as well...
- Change, or you will be pulled down...
Change? What does that even mean? I'm changing...but...what does this being mean? How am I supposed to know? Well, I can tell this thing is trying to end my life, I guess I could just destroy these damn things with a bit of my power, I swung one of my limbs and struck a...
Suddenly a massive laser came out of my limb tearing those things, the laser cut through the ocean leaving an abyssal hole in the middle of it...What? How is that even possible? I have never been able to muster such amount of power with so little effort...so that means...my powers are restricted in this world...but Why? and above everything else...Who? Who did such thing to me?...There's only one being capable of this...it must be...
- W...What? how were you able to do that, creature? - The voice from before asked frightened - What are...? Wait, What's happening?
Around me, I saw several cracks in the fabric of reality, through them I saw...The Void? Portals, Portals to the Void? but why? this makes no sense, it's impossible. when I arrived here I didn't feel any void energy...and all of a sudden the Void is...Was this...my doing? That power from before...I'm aware I can open rifts to the Void, but not like this, I damaged the fabric of reality and unleashed the Void...I'm destroying this world...and allowing the void to eat it...I must return to my body...the limiter should be able to stop this...yes...it must...
When I opened my eye I was back in my old body, around me the world was normal once again, but there was something strange, the hole in the ocean was gone, there were no signs of my power, that's impossible, I saw it, I almost destroyed the Shadow Isles...What is the meaning of this? A vision? Ridiculous, no power in this land can fool me...then...what exactly...?
- ...Help...me... - I heard a voice mutter.
I turned around, behind me was a woman, a really huge woman, the biggest woman I've seen so far, just as big as Braum, her whole body was a mass of muscles, her skin was brown, shining in the sun, she was wearing some green clothes, in her face I saw some green tattoos, at her feet, lied a purple and golden orb...wait...something is wrong...her eyes...were purple...just like Malzahar...there was something off with her...what could it...?
The Void...that strange place I was before...that realm...I'm not really sure about how human magic works...but the only logical hypothesis I have is that I was somehow inside that golden orb...I'm not sure how...but it seems the woman and the orb are connected...the energy burst...the rifts of the void...everything is happening inside that woman...corrupting her body and soul...jus like Malzahar...but different...Malzahar's power comes from his eyes...this woman...is becoming a voidling...a savage being of the past, seeking for nourishment to sate her hunger...a monster of the void...erasing her from this land is the best option...should she escape the Shadow Isles she will destroy everything in her way...
- ...Please... - She winced in pain.
Saving her...is not impossible...I could stop the progression of the void inside of her...but the Void corruption will remain inside of her forever...I'm afraid one day that power will be unleashed...and she will destroy this world...finishing her right here is the best option...whoever you are...I'm sorry...
- ...please... - She winced once again - ...help...me... - She finished crying.
...
...
...
...Goddammit...
I touched her forehead with my limb...i was right...the corruption was almost complete...but...I can do this...as I struggle I feel something strange above...I look up and see a massive creature in the sky...it possess tentacles...the light is blinding me...I'm tired...the corruption is unstoppable...my efforts are futile...at this rate I will perish as well, I can either save her and die...or kill her and survive...what should i...?
- Please... - an unknown female voice speaks to me - ...Please...save my child...
...
...
...
I hate this world...I hate these new things called feelings...I hate the humans...I hate them...I came to this world looking for answers...instead...all I got were more questions...I was betrayed...I was killed...I was abandoned...yet...I want to save this woman whose name I ignore...I want to save a complete stranger...even if I have to die for her sake...I want to save her...am I sick?...am I insane?...
...
No...
I know the answer...
...
...
...
Human after all...