In a bygone era, the malevolent force known as the Demon Lord asserted dominion over Runeterra. The virtuous populace, bereft of the strength to resist, endured oppression and exploitation under the rule of this nefarious entity. A prolonged era of suffering unfolded as the forces of darkness reigned supreme.
Yet, amid the shadows, a valiant coalition of individuals emerged, displaying unwavering courage against the encroaching despair. These champions, hailed as heroes, rose to challenge the oppressive regime. Foremost among them was All Might, the paragon of virtue, who with unmatched prowess, banished the demon lord, All For One, and restored tranquility to the beleaguered land.
The heroic deeds of these champions echoed throughout Runeterra, earning them the reverence of all. Among those inspired was a youth named Izuku, hailing from a humble countryside. In his heart, Izuku harbored an admiration for All Might that bordered on the verge of fervent devotion.
As the night draped the landscape in shadows, Izuku stood at the threshold of his small village home, buzzing with resolve that shimmered like a distant star. His mother, Inko, watched with a mix of surprise and concern, her eyes reflecting the glow of the flickering lanterns.
"Izuku… Are you really leaving tonight honey?" Inko somberly inquired. "It's quite sudden. Why do you have to leave now?"
Izuku gingerly hugged his mother. "I'm going to find All Might, Mom. I want to be a hero just like him.I've heard rumors – he's been seen a few villages north of ours."
Surprise etched its way on to her face. "All Might? But Izuku, you've never left the village before. How are you going to stay safe?"
"I know. But I can't ignore this feeling Mom. I have to try." Izuku reassured her.
Inko's maternal instinct warred with her trust in her son's spirit.
The next morning she prepared him with provisions, maps, and tales of caution, until Izuku was burdened with a sack almost larger than himself. As he ventured out, the weight almost toppled him, only increasing his mother's concern.
The green haired woman pulled her sun into a tight hug. "Remember, my brave adventurer, you carry the spirit of a hero within you. But promise me, if the things get too tough, you'll find safety."
Izuku smiled warmly. "I promise, Mom. I'll make you proud and find All Might."
On the outskirts of the village Izuku hesitated for a moment.
He glanced back at the glare of reflected from his villages' homes. Yet, the warmth of the sun offered a tender welcome to the world beyond, and the open road beckoned.
Meanwhile, on a clandestine path through the forest, a hidden observer noticed Izuku's departure.
The cloaked man whispered to himself, "So, a young adventurer seeks my guidance. Interesting."
As Izuku treaded the forest paths of Ixtal, he relied on his knowledge of the terrain. However, the magic-infused flora and fauna posed challenges even he hadn't anticipated especially as night fell.
The sounds of mysterious creatures echoed through the trees, heightening tension radiating through his body. As he ascended grassy hill he pulled his short sword to stay prepared for anything.
As he crested the hill he bore witness to a bandit, accompanied by two menacing animals, seemingly threatening a knight and a mage. Instinctively, Izuku rushed to their aid.
"Hey! Leave them alone!" Izuku shouted with fervor as he rushed in, swatting down the locked blades of the knight and the bandit allowing for space to be made.
Analyzing the environment, Izuku came to quickly recognize a few things.
The animals they faced along with the bandit were basilisks, the mage with them was definitely not very experienced with fighting or this environment given her shaky demeanor in the face of these beasts, and they were likely out matched here.
"Listen, all I want is your purse and you all are free to go." The masked man slyly attempted to persuade Izuku and company.
The bandit continued, "I recognize the crest on that armor. Piltover's House of Ida correct? Your family wouldn't want to see any of you young ones get seriously hurt would they?"
The aggressors stance indicated that he, conversely to Izuku and the mage, was quite experienced in combat. He held his blade forward in confidence and almost cockily kept one hand behind his back. At the same time the close proximity that one of the basilisks kept to the man showed that it was trained to guard him while the other was trained to hold his victims in place.
"My family would never stand for some lowly brigand stealing from one of their own!" The knight argued in a strangely formal tone. "Let us go and I'll consider not reporting you to the local authorities."
"Let's see what you can do." The man barked before rushing at them.
The knight from Piltover met his adversary head on and the trio found themselves united against a common enemy.
The battle between bandit and knight became a dance of steel. Despite the heavy appearance of the armor the member of the Iida family was quite fast and agile.
While those two were locked in battle Izuku and his new mage ally found themselves trying to avoid getting bit by the large reptilian beasts.
"I can't touch them or focus to cast a spell." The mage whose soft voice revealed to Izuku that she was in fact a she. "Do you think you can distract both of them while I try to use my magic?"
Izuku briefly pondered her request attempting to think of his best course of action while the two were still doing their best to avoid getting mauled by the basilisks.
Then it it him.
"Yes!" He sheathed his blade and quickly started digging into his bag and began mumbling to himself.
Izuku pulled out two bulbous fruits and heaved them at the basilisks hitting both them right in the face. Within moments they were on the ground clawing at their noses and licking their faces obviously trying to get the the fruit off of them.
In moments the mage swooped in, "Float!" She shouted as she tapped one of the basilisks with her hand and the other with her staff.
The basilisks did just that; they began to rise up in the air as though gravity had no meaning for them. The pair of creatures began to struggle as they tried to trot but we're suspended in the air.
Before they could celebrate for incapacitating the animals the two were quickly drawn back into the fight with the agile knight and the dexterous bandit.
The two were at a clear stalemate. "You're not to bad of a fighter for a kid," joked the mugger.
The Iida family knight quickly retorted, "well met sir."
"Hey! It doesn't look like he's actually trying to hurt you. You should go on the offensive and we can corner him!" Blurted Izuku.
The chivalrous combatant was swift in responding to Izuku's words now that he knew his comrades were able to support him in this fight. He began to strike with much more haste, each slice and dodge following another as if he had not even taken a second to breathe.
"Burst!" The Piltoveran shouted before he was enveloped in a sharp blue light.
Izuku had never seen anything of the likes before him. "Magic!" He giddily exclaimed to himself."
The knights movements began to move numerous times faster than they had been before, and yet the bandit was somehow keeping up. But as the fight progressed in these moments that felt like ages one could tell that criminal was being pushed back.
The man dodgrd backwards from Iida, blocked a slice that quickly followed, only to be forced to jump up to dodge a low kick that quickly came in sequence.
The bandit grew tired of this. "This isn't worth my time." He cursed before launching himself into the trees and just like that he was gone.
The trio had successfully enacted a counteroffensive to the bandit, turned the tide in their favor, and forced him to flee, finally granting themselves reprieve and a second of calm.
The knight in silver armor approached Izuku extending a hand, "I am Tenya Iida, a traveling knight. This mage is Ochaco. Who might you be?"
Izuku extending his hand in response, smiling through his panting, "I'm Izuku Midoriya. I'm traveling as well!" He then proceeded to introduce himself to the hooded mage as well. "Nice to meet you Ochaco"
"Hi. Nice to meet you as well." She shook his hand and a tingling sensation went through Izuku's arm as he began to float himself.
"Whoa," said the green haired boy as his feet rose higher.
"Sorry! My bad." Ochaco exclaimed tapping Izuku with her staff and he descending back ending up in the floor.
Ochaco reached out and offered him a hand that he wearily accepted as he stood back up. "My magic is a little bit off sometimes."
Dusting himself off Izuku couldn't help be feel amazed! "That was awesome!" He had never personally experienced the feeling of magic like that before. "Your magic is amazing Ochaco."
"Thanks," she said and she proceeded to double over and throw up.
She wiped off her face and proceeded stand back up, "it also makes me sick sometimes."
"Fascinating." Izuku pondered her magical prowess hoping to get a better grasp of her abilities.
"Well we must be off, but I would like to know…" Tenya interrupted the exchange, "Izuku how did you know how to incapacitate those monsters?"
They weren't monsters those were basilisks, a very common creature in this region. Thise basilisk in particular were very little for their average size from what I've read. That means they must be young or even pups. So you can easily disturb their developing senses! Luckily I was picking some fruit on my way, and I have just the fruit for the job. Calasa, it's a native fruit to this land with a delicious nectar. I knew that It'd-" Izuku went on and on
"Wait, you said from reading?" chimed Ochaco, "so you haven't fought them before? Wow."
Izuku was slightly embarrassed to be caught so quickly. "No I haven't. I only just started my travels." He admitted rosiness finding itself on his freckled cheeks.
"Oh. I see." Tenya assumed a thoughtful pose, "so what is the purpose of your travels Izuku?"
Izuku beamed at the question, "I am searching for All Might!"
Ochaco and Tenya exchanged a glance at one another.
"So are we." Tenya responded with not even a slight amount of enthusiasm.
Finally catching his breath, Izumi continued with enthusiasm, "We're on the same quest. Let's find All Might together," the Italian teen said with determination. Izuku did not pick up on Teyna and Ochaco's apprehension.
"Your intentions seem noble, but these lands are fraught with danger." Tenya began to probe, "Why do you seek All Might?"
Izuku, still fueled by the recent encounter, eagerly explained, "All Might is the greatest hero. I've always admired him and I recently heard he was in a village not too far from here." He continued shyly, "I believe he can teach me to be a hero just like him, I had a dream about it..."
Now recovered from her magical exertion, Ochaco joined the conversation. "I'm looking for someone to teach me to master my magic, and, well, we're also on a mission to find All Might," she added, glancing at Tenya.
Tenya let out a sigh and began to reveal his purpose. "I am on a mission by my family to find All Might. Rumors suggest that heroes who fought against the Demon Lord years ago are now disappearing."
Tenya paused, the gravity of the situation on his face. "I'm tasked with finding and escorting All Might back to Piltover."
"Di-disappearing?" Izuku asked confused, "What do you mean disappearing? Where could they be going? Are they being taken? Who said that they're disappearing? Which heroes?" Izuku spewed a line of questioning that Tenya wasn't sure he even was meant to answer.
Tenya, adjusting the straps of his armor, continued, "My family believes All Might's knowledge and abilities are crucial in these troubling times. With the heroes who once stood against the Demon Lord going missing one by one, we need his guidance to ensure that stability of Valoran."
Izuku began to quizzically talk to himself, "Could this be related to my dream? Missing heroes? Multiple people searching for All Might? The bandit earlier not fighting with any lethality... There's something bigger at play here."
Tenya nodded solemnly. "Indeed Izuku. This is a cause of concern and the balance of Valoran is delicate. Only All Might's influence could ensure the scales are tipped in favor of peace and justice."
Feeling better, Ochaco reentered the conversation, "It's getting late and I don't want the bandit to come back for us with more people, maybe we should get going." The boys nodded in agreeance.
"Where did you say All Might is again Izuku?" She asked with purpose.
With that the group began their trek together north navigating a terrain that seemed both enchanting but could yet be perilous. As they walked through the moonlit forest torch in hand, Izuku began sharing his knowledge of Ixtali flora and fauna, providing insight he believed could prove invaluable in their journey.
The night air carried with it a sense of anticipation. Shadows danced among the trees, and the distant hum of magical energies stirred the air. Unbeknownst to them, the presence of the Dark Lord, manipulating forces from the northern continent of Valoran, loomed over their destinies.
They knew not of their fourth party member, the hidden observer, who continued to shadow their path, watching with keen interest. The adventure had only just begun, and Runeterra was about to weave their stories into a legend that would echo through the ages.