Ionia. I found myself standing beside a young Akali, her face alight with mischief, her eyes sparkling with a joy that was infectious. She was perched on the branch of a massive cherry blossom tree, its fragrant petals raining down around us, painting the world in hues of pink and white.
Below, a group of children, their faces flushed with excitement, played a game of tag amidst the trees. Their laughter echoed through the forest, a melody of pure, unadulterated joy.
"Watch this!" young Akali whispered, her voice bubbling with anticipation.
With a mischievous grin, she plucked a handful of cherry blossoms and tossed them into the air. As the petals fluttered down, she leaped from the branch, her small form a blur of motion as she landed silently among the unsuspecting children.
Chaos ensued. The children scattered, their shrieks of laughter echoing through the forest as Akali weaved between them, her movements as swift and elusive as a shadow.
I watched, mesmerized, as she led them on a merry chase, her laughter blending with theirs, creating a symphony of pure delight. She was a whirlwind of energy, her spirit untamed, her joy boundless.
The memory shifted slightly, and I saw Akali, older now, her features still holding the echoes of that childhood joy. She was perched on a rooftop, overlooking the bustling streets of Ionia. The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, a breathtaking backdrop to the city's vibrant life.
She held a small, intricately carved wooden bird in her hand, its wings spread wide as if in flight. She tossed it into the air, and it soared, catching the wind, a symbol of freedom and the beauty she found in defying gravity.
As the bird circled back towards her, a smile, genuine and unguarded, lit up her face. It was a smile that revealed the heart of the woman she would become—a fierce protector, a loyal friend, and a soul that, despite the darkness she had faced, still held onto the joy of life's simple pleasures.
The memory faded, but the warmth of it lingered, a comforting glow within the cold emptiness of Yaavin's influence. All I could do was stare into her eyes. It wasn't the fact that she stopped Yaavin from taking me over or the memory that I saw. I was shocked. Stunned into inaction. She had chosen to open up to me. The guarded and closed off ninja, always saying quips and keeping us at arm's length, opened herself to me. Akali's tears stopped, their tracks drying on her cheeks, leaving behind streaks of dust and grime against her pale skin. Her dark eyes, usually sharp and guarded, held a vulnerability that both captivated and terrified me.
For a fleeting moment, the world seemed to shrink, the roar of the battle, the looming presence of the Aspects, it all faded into a distant echo. All that remained was the weight of her gaze, the warmth of her breath against my skin, and the unsettling realization that the girl who had challenged me, teased me, and pushed me further than I thought possible… had just bared her soul to me.
"Ravik," she whispered, her voice a tremor of hope against the darkness that still clung to me. "Do you... do you see it now?"
But before I could find the words, before I could even begin to unravel the tangled emotions that surged within me, a flash of golden light pierced the air.
"Enough of this!" Leona's voice, a thunderclap against the mountain's silence, shattered the fragile peace that had settled between Akali and me. "Your deception ends now, Yaavin!"
Diana, her crescent blade a blur of silver, emerged from the swirling mists, her gaze fixed on Akali with a chilling intensity. "You dare shield this monster?" she hissed, her voice as cold and sharp as the blade itself. "Have you too fallen prey to his insidious whispers?"
Akali, her kama still pressed against my throat, didn't flinch. She met Diana's gaze with a fierceness that mirrored the Aspect's own. "Wait!" she commanded, her voice ringing with an authority that surprised even me. "He's… he's not what you think he is!"
Leona scoffed, her golden armor gleaming with celestial fire. "Do not insult us with your naivety, girl," she boomed. "We know his essence. We have seen his darkness. He is Yaavin, the Unmaking, and he will be stopped!"
Diana, her form a blur of shadow and moonlight, circled closer, her blade aimed at Akali's exposed flank. "Step aside, child," she warned, her voice a chilling whisper. "This is a battle between gods and monsters. You are but a mortal caught in the crossfire."
I struggled to rise, to shield Akali from their wrath, but the weight of her body, the pressure of her kama against my skin, it held me captive.
And in that moment, as I met Leona and Diana's gazes, I saw a flicker of something… different. It wasn't just rage, not just judgment. There was a hint of… confusion.
My eyes, still blazing with the echoes of Yaavin's power, met theirs, and within their depths, I saw a reflection of Akali's own anguish. They saw her tears, felt her desperation, and for the first time, they questioned the certainty of their own pronouncements.
Could this mortal girl, this warrior who walked the path of shadows, truly see something within me that they had missed?
Akali's voice, a desperate plea against the backdrop of celestial fury, hung in the air. Leona and Diana hesitated, their eyes flickering between Akali's anguish and my own corrupted form. The warmth of her touch, the echo of that shared memory, it had created a crack in Yaavin's armor, a flicker of doubt amidst the storm.
But it wasn't enough. The darkness within me surged, Yaavin's essence roaring its defiance, the power overwhelming.
"Foolish mortals!" My voice, distorted by Yaavin's power, boomed across the bridge, the sound shaking the very foundations of the mountain. "You think you can defy fate? I am chaos incarnate! I am the unmaking! And I will break your precious order!"
Leona, her golden eyes ablaze, raised her shield, the celestial fire around her intensifying, a sun about to supernova. "Your arrogance blinds you, Yaavin," she declared, her voice a thunderclap. "You will face the Sun's judgment!"
Diana, a whirlwind of shadow and moonlight, circled closer, her blade a whisper of impending doom. "The Moon will claim your essence, Yaavin," she hissed. "And your reign of chaos will end."
They lunged, their combined might an unstoppable force. But before their celestial power could crash down upon me, a voice, as ancient as the mountain itself, cut through the chaos.
"Enough!"
The world seemed to pause. The wind died down, the snow ceased its relentless fall, and the very air itself held its breath. Leona and Diana faltered, their eyes widening in surprise as they turned towards the source of that commanding voice.
Elara stood at the edge of the bridge, her form no longer that of a weathered caravan driver, but a figure radiating a power that dwarfed even the Aspects' chosen. Her eyes, once warm and kind, now blazed with a celestial light that shifted between hues of emerald green and earthen brown. Her simple robes transformed, replaced by flowing garments woven from starlight and shadow, adorned with symbols that shimmered with ancient magic.
"Elara?" Akali gasped, her voice a mix of awe and disbelief.
But there was no mistaking the transformation. The unassuming caravan driver was gone, replaced by a being whose very presence commanded the very air itself.
"Elara?" Leona echoed, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What… what is this?"
Diana lowered her blade, her gaze fixed on Elara with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice laced with a newfound respect.
Elara stepped onto the bridge, her footsteps echoing with the weight of a thousand journeys. She raised her hand, and the starlight beneath our feet solidified, the fractured fragments of celestial energy merging back into a stable path.
"I am," she declared, her voice a low rumble that resonated with the power of the mountain itself, "The Shepherd. And you, champions of the Sun and Moon, have forgotten the true meaning of your duty."
Leona's golden eyes narrowed, her defiance battling with a flicker of doubt. "The Shepherd?" she echoed, the name seeming to spark a distant memory. "But… that Aspect hasn't walked among mortals for centuries."
Diana, ever the pragmatist, took a different approach. "If you are indeed The Shepherd," she said, her voice cautious but respectful, "why have you returned? And why do you shield this… this creature who bears the mark of Yaavin?"
Elara's gaze shifted towards me, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and understanding. Then, she turned back to the Aspect Hosts, her voice resonating with an ancient wisdom.
"The mountain tests all who climb its slopes, champions," she said. "It reveals the darkness within, but it also offers the chance for redemption." She paused, her eyes flickering between Leona and Diana, their forms now bathed in a soft, ethereal glow that emanated from her own presence.
"You see only the echoes of his past, the shadow of chaos that clings to him. But I see the flicker of light, the struggle for balance."
From behind her, three figures emerged, their forms blending seamlessly with the starlight. Irelia, Ezreal, and Sivir, their expressions mirroring the awe and confusion that painted Akali's face.
Elara, her gaze returning to me, offered a knowing smile. "The path ahead is treacherous, Ravik," she said, her voice a beacon of hope amidst the lingering darkness. "But you are not alone. We will walk it together."
The essence in me roared, but I ignored it. The leftover stardust from my runes surrounded Akali and I, a reminder of what had just transpired. I rose to my feet slowly, in awe of what was revealed. Elara had hidden her identity to us. What's more, we had met her in Shurima... An Aspect had come all the way out there to find me? Why?
"You... You stopped them. Why?" I asked.
Elara's gaze met mine, her eyes a reflection of the mountain's untamed power. She smiled, a hint of sadness in her expression.
"Because, Ravik," she said softly, "sometimes even the Aspects need… guidance." She turned towards Leona and Diana, her voice gaining strength, resonating with an authority that silenced their protests.
"You see only the darkness, champions," she said, her tone laced with a gentle rebuke. "But have you forgotten the lessons Targon teaches? Balance is not the absence of chaos; it is the harmony found between opposing forces."
She gestured towards me, her eyes filled with a mix of compassion and hope.
"He is not Yaavin, not anymore," she declared. "He is a fragment, yes, a vessel for chaos. But he is also a being of choice, a soul seeking redemption. And it is our duty, as those who walk Targon's path, to guide him towards the light… not condemn him to the darkness."
The others had found their way to me. I wish I could explain to them what was happening. It was a piece of Yaavin's dark history I had hope to keep to myself. But eventually I'd have to share everything. Nightmares shared are easier to bear. I looked to Diana's and Leona's faces, twisted in confusion and perhaps... apologetic? I stepped toward Elara, emotions colliding with Yaavin's essence. I needed to know once and for all. I despised this war in my heart. I hated letting myself down every time I feel like I've gotten a grasp of who I was. I HAD to know.
"Am I worthy of redemption?"
A hush fell over the bridge, the only sound the wind whistling through the canyons, carrying with it the echoes of ancient magic. Elara's gaze softened, the celestial light within her eyes shifting to a warmer hue, a mix of earthen brown and a gentle, mossy green. She reached out, her hand resting lightly on my shoulder, her touch a grounding force amidst the swirling uncertainties.
"That, Ravik," she said, her voice a calming whisper, "is a question only you can answer."
Leona, her golden armor now muted, stepped forward, her expression a mix of confusion and a grudging respect. "The Sun's judgment is swift and absolute, Yaavin," she said, her voice losing its earlier harshness. "But even the most radiant light… can cast shadows. Perhaps we were… hasty."
Diana, her crescent blade sheathed, approached as well, her shadowed form a counterpoint to Leona's softened presence. "The Moon's path is one of change, Yaavin," she said, her voice laced with a thoughtful introspection. "And even the darkest of hearts… can find redemption."
Their words, a hesitant offering of understanding, echoed the very truths I had been struggling to grasp. Was I worthy of redemption? Could I, a fragment of a being bent on destruction, truly find a path towards the light?
The weight of Yaavin's past deeds, the memories of chaos and bloodshed that now swirled within my own mind, threatened to crush me. But Elara's touch, the warmth of her presence, anchored me, a lifeline amidst the storm.
"The journey is long, Ravik," she said, her voice a gentle reminder. "And the trials will test you in ways you cannot imagine. But do not despair. You have allies now. We will walk this path together."
A wave of exhaustion, deeper than the physical weariness from the climb and the near-battle, washed over me. Yaavin's essence receded, the darkness within me ebbing away like a tide retreating from the shore. The world around me sharpened, the colors regaining their vibrancy, the sounds of the wind and the distant waterfall returning to their natural symphony.
But the echoes of that power… they lingered.
I felt a pull, faint yet undeniable, toward a distant land, a place of iron and blood, where ambition reigned and shadows whispered tales of conquest. Noxus.
And within that pull, a flicker of recognition, a dark echo that made my blood run cold. The Soul of Yaavin. It was there, hidden amidst the heart of Noxus, its power simmering, waiting to be unleashed.
But something else stirred within me as well, a sensation so subtle I almost missed it. A presence, vast and ancient, its gaze fixed upon me, a mixture of curiosity and… something else. Something primal, something terrifying.
It wasn't the Sun or Moon; it was something older, more deeply connected to the very essence of Targon itself. A being whose power dwarfed even the Aspects.
I shivered, the warmth of Elara's hand on my shoulder a fleeting comfort against the chilling realization. Yaavin's return had not gone unnoticed.
"Ravik?" Elara's voice, a gentle murmur now, drew me back from the abyss of those unsettling sensations. Her eyes, still holding a trace of celestial light, searched my face. "You seem troubled. Are you alright?"
I nodded, forcing a smile. "Just… tired."
The truth was, I was more than tired. I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. The constant struggle against Yaavin's influence, the weight of his past deeds, it was taking its toll.
I yearned for a moment of peace, a chance to simply… be.
"Rest is what you need, Ravik," Elara said, her voice a calm reassurance. "The mountain's trials are not meant to be faced with a weary soul. Come, I know a place."
She led us away from the Bridge of Stars, our path now a gentle descent towards the sun-drenched slopes of Targon. The air grew warmer, the wind bit less, and the scent of pine and wildflowers replaced the metallic tang that had lingered near the peak.
As we walked, Leona and Diana remained silent, their gazes fixed on me, a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty in their eyes. I could feel the weight of their judgment, even as their initial hostility had softened.
Akali, meanwhile, kept her distance, her cloak pulled tight, her presence a shadow that followed me like a watchful spirit. The warmth of that shared memory, the vulnerability she'd revealed, hung between us like an unspoken promise, a flicker of hope amidst the encroaching darkness.
Ezreal, ever the explorer, marveled at the changing landscape, his goggles reflecting the golden sunlight that bathed the slopes. "This is more like it," he exclaimed, stretching his arms above his head. "Sunshine, fresh air, and the promise of adventure. Who could ask for more?"
Sivir, her gaze sharp and calculating, scanned the horizon, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her crossblade. "Don't let your guard down, Ezreal," she cautioned. "The mountain's dangers are many, and they don't always announce themselves with a roar."
Elara halted the caravan at the edge of a clearing, the sun's rays illuminating a sight that stole my breath. Before us, nestled amidst a grove of ancient trees, stood a Solari temple, its white marble facade gleaming like a beacon of light.
"This is the Sunstone Sanctuary," Elara explained, her voice a reverent murmur. "A place of peace and contemplation, where the Solari seek to commune with their Aspect."
She turned towards me, her eyes filled with a knowing glint. "Here, Ravik," she said softly, "you might find the respite you seek. And perhaps… even some answers."
The temple's presence was calming, the air around it charged with a serene energy that seemed to push back the shadows that clung to me. I took a deep breath, the scent of incense and wildflowers filling my lungs, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I felt a sense of… hope.
The warmth of the Sunstone Sanctuary was a welcome respite from the biting wind and relentless snow. Stepping through the temple's grand archway felt like entering another realm – a sanctuary of light and serenity amidst Targon's harsh embrace.
Sunlight streamed through stained-glass windows, casting intricate patterns of color across the polished marble floors. Incense, a blend of sandalwood and something uniquely Targon – perhaps the essence of mountain herbs? – filled the air with a calming fragrance. Solari acolytes, clad in flowing white robes, moved with a quiet grace, their eyes reflecting a serene devotion to their Aspect.
Elara guided us to a series of chambers reserved for guests, their simplicity a stark contrast to the temple's grandeur, yet offering a sense of peace and seclusion. Hot springs, fed by the mountain's natural warmth, promised to soothe our aching muscles and wash away the grime of the journey.
"Rest," Elara said, her voice a gentle murmur, her eyes holding a warmth that seemed to radiate from within. "The mountain has tested you, Ravik. Allow the Sun's light to restore your spirit."
I nodded, gratitude filling me. As she turned to depart, I noticed a shift in her demeanor, her gaze lingering on Diana with a mix of concern and a subtle warning.
"The Lunari are not unwelcome here, Diana," Elara said, her voice now carrying a hint of the authority she'd wielded on the bridge, "But the path of the moon… it diverges from the sun's. Choose your steps wisely, champion. Targon's trials demand… balance."
Diana, her shadowed form a stark contrast to the temple's radiant light, inclined her head in acknowledgement. "My path is my own, Shepherd," she replied, her voice cool but respectful. "And the moon's light shines brightest in the darkest of nights."
With a final, lingering glance towards me, a look that held a mix of emotions I couldn't decipher, she turned and walked towards the temple's exit, her form disappearing into the swirling mists.
The weight of her gaze, the unspoken tension that had simmered between us since our first encounter, it lingered in the air long after she'd gone.
The warmth of the spring water soothed my aching muscles, washing away the grime and exhaustion of the journey. I closed my eyes, letting the steam rise around me, blurring the edges of the world.
But even in the sanctuary of the Sunstone Temple, I couldn't escape the shadows. The pull of Yaavin's Soul, a dark beacon calling from the heart of Noxus, it thrummed within me, a constant reminder of the challenges that lay ahead. And the unsettling presence I'd felt on the mountain… it lingered, a watchful gaze that seemed to pierce through the very walls of the temple.
Later, we gathered around a simple wooden table, the aroma of freshly baked bread and herbal tea filling the air. The warmth of the hearth, the flickering light of the candles, it created an atmosphere of intimacy, a stark contrast to the harsh beauty of the mountain outside.
I looked at my companions, their faces reflecting the exhaustion and the lingering tension of the past few days. But in their eyes, I also saw a shared determination, a bond forged in the fires of our shared trials.
"What happened back there?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "After the Whiteflame… after I..."
I trailed off, unable to articulate the overwhelming fear and confusion that had consumed me.
"It was like something out of a legend, Ravik!" Ezreal exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and a lingering tremor of fear. "You were… well, you were incredible! The power you unleashed, it was like the mountain itself was at your command."
He paused, his gaze turning serious. "But it was also… terrifying, even more so this time." He glanced at Irelia, a silent acknowledgment of the shared experience that still haunted them both from Zaun. "And that look in your eyes… it was like…" He trailed off, unable to find the right words.
Irelia, her gaze fixed on me, her expression a mix of concern and a newfound understanding, picked up where Ezreal had left off. "It was like you were no longer yourself," she said softly. "Consumed by something… ancient and dark. But then... something shifted."
Her hand instinctively went to the scar on her arm, a faint trace of the wound I'd inflicted in my moment of madness back in Piltover. The warmth of our shared memory, the essence of Irelia's strength that had momentarily anchored me—it flashed in my mind, a bittersweet reminder of the power and the peril that intertwined our paths.
Akali, who had been unusually quiet, her gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the flickering candle flames, finally spoke. "It's that damn fragment," she muttered, her voice laced with a bitterness that surprised me. "It's taking him over. Twisting him into… something he's not."
Her words, a blunt assessment devoid of her usual playful edge, hung in the air, heavy with the weight of shared fears.
Sivir, however, stared at me with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine. Her usual cool detachment was gone, replaced by a raw, unfiltered shock.
"What in the seven hells… was that?" she breathed, her voice barely a whisper. "That power… that darkness… I've faced Ascended, battled creatures of the Void, but I've never seen anything like that." Her hand tightened on the hilt of her crossblade, her eyes narrowed with a mix of fear and fascination.
The weight of their gazes, the unspoken questions that hung in the air, it was almost unbearable. I looked down at my hands, the memories of those battles—against the Whiteflame, against Leona and Diana, against the very essence of myself—swirling within me like a chaotic storm.
I wanted to explain, to confess the truths that now haunted my waking thoughts. The pull of the Soul fragment, the watchful gaze of that ancient, unknown entity, the fear that Yaavin's legacy might ultimately consume me.
But how could I? How could I burden them with the weight of those fears, the knowledge that the monster they were fighting wasn't just an external threat, but a darkness woven into the very fabric of my being?
"It's... what I was telling you back in Shurima. I'm a fragment of Yaavin. That temple, that person we fought. That was another piece. You saw how hard we had to fight to beat it, let alone reach it and leave." I reminded. My gaze shifted over to Akali. She had said something that caught me off guard. That the fragment was inside me, not that I am that fragment. I'm not sure if I should happy that she's not associating me with that darkness, or sad that she's fooling herself into believing that I can't be that darkness.
"I... I owe you all a story. You've all stuck with me this far, you've more than earned anything I owe you." And so, I told them the memories I saw in the Mind of Yaavin.