There actually was reasoning as to why I chose Karna of all servants to be the one Ezreal summons, as will be revealed this chapter. Sadly said chapter is one of those "exposition" chapters that follow the Ki-Sho-Ten-Ketsu style of storytelling so its a bit of a slog in my opinion.

While writing I'm currently also thinking in the back of my head how in the world I'll write this story when I know nothing about League of Legends lore. Oh well, I'll fake it until I make it.

Enjoy the chapter!

There was a slight staredown between the two individuals within the room.

"Huh." Was the eloquent response of Ezreal "...So, Karna right. Is Lancer a code name of yours? Seems uninspired."

Half at an attempt and alleviating the situation with humour, half to try and get information on whatever is going on.

"You seem to be unaware of my legend...Yes, my class is Lancer. Of course, it is because it is because my main weapon can be considered to be one, Master." The man named Karna responds in kind.

"Geh, Master?" The blonde haired boy's face scrunches up slightly at the title he was given by this man. It reminded Ezreal of the tutors his uncle had surrounded him with.

Don't get it twisted, Ezreal knew what his uncle Lymerewas trying to do, help train Ezreal and distract him from the thought of his parents. He had meant well, sure, but the execution was terrible. With the great wealth of his uncle, the best tutors money could buy were provided for Ezreal, however that also meant the most stuffiest and pompous people were surrounding the young boy nearly every day.

There was a reason why Piltover, the famed city of progression, research and technological and magical developmemt were considered to be filled with individuals stereotyped to be pompous and stubborn individuals with a pechant for arrogance and narcassism.

Say what you want about Ezreal having first world rich kid problems, as Ezreal thinks he turned out alright compared to what was planned for him, as he was put on a pedestal with insane expectations that differed from his morality and what he could accomplish.

After all, those tutors that wanted to get a consistent source of income from a dumb rich kid showered Ezreal in countless titles and compliments.

The most common title he was labelled with, was Young Master Ezreal.

"Don't call me that." Ezreal says suddenly, a bit harshly but not outright angrily "My name is Jarro Lightfeather, maybe you heard of me. I'm quite famous in these parts."

Ezreal lied as naturally as he breathed.

It was more of a half truth, Ezreal learned from a young age that the greatest lies have sprinkles of truth in them. It was a skill honed through his childhood days, giving excuses and alibis to his tutors to avoid lessons as well as in his teenage and young adult life as he may be in hot water due to temporarily borrowing a few ancient artefacts here and there when they were still owned or protected by people.

"I apologise if I have wronged you in any way. As your servant, may I ask what I shall call you then, as well as to what your true name is?" Without missing a beat, Karna sees through Ezreal's seemless attempt at deception.

This was not because Ezreal was a bad liar, in fact one of the reasons why Ezreal had lasted so long as a lone Explorer was because of his silver tongue.

It was because of Karna's skill as a Lancer Class servant, Discernment of the Poor.

This Rank A skill allows Karna to see through all manner of deception and lies, this may include hallucinations and illusions broight through hallucinogenic chemicals or illusion magecraft however can also be used to identify if an individual is lying to Karna through outright lies of half lies, such has how Ezreal had attenpted to do so.

Of course, Ezreal had no way of knowing this.

"Ghh!...Right, how do I know you're not some evil knight who can ressurect people from the dead or something?" Ezreal was still cautious, in his point of view, Lancer was an individual who can somehow see through his lies without a second glance and was summoned while holding a weapon of his namesake, this created a sort of invisible pressire against the boy as he felt threatened.

Karna responds by dematerialising his weapon, through this, Ezreal actually feels a bit lighter as his shoulders ease up.

"Am I that relieved?" Ezreal thinks to himself for a moment at how much more easier it is to move now.

"Will that suffice, Summoner?" Karna says, breaking Ezreal from his inner monologue "I have no proof of my goodwill to you and your wish other than my word and honour."

"I...guess you're the knightly type then, like a Demacian...You wouldn't happen to hate magic would you?" Ezreal mentions back, still gettig used to the situation but some of his usual snark and confidence returns.

"True Magic, I have no like or dislike for it. This also applies to Magecraft, so if you are a magus I have no thoughts about it, Summoner." Karna replies, fully seriously in tone and expression.

"Alright alright, I get it. My name is...Ezreal. Though, if you have to give a title to me, I'm not a Master. And calling me Summoner doesn't sound right either, I'm an Explorer and a damn good one. You got that, Karna?"

"Of course, Explorer."

"..."

For a while, there was another awkward silence among the two. At least, awkward for Ezreal, Karna on the other hand took the lack of conversation in stride.

"So...You're Karna. My...Lancer Class servant? How did you even get here?" Ezreal decides to take off his gauntlet, now spotting his new tattoo "Huh, what in the world?"

"It seems you are new to the summoning ritual, Explorer. Allow me to explain. I am known as a Servant, through your strong desire being detected through the Holy Grail and the catalyst you provided to the summoning circle; I have answered your call. As a Servant I can assist you in any way. I am particularly good at combat." Karna explains as Ezreal rubs at the tattoo.

"Can you at least call me Ezreal when its a casual setting...right, so I brought you here through the summoning circle which I accidentally activated, heh, my genius as a mage has no bounds. Sorry about that by the way. I gotta say, you're taking to being summoned to a strange place very well. How do I send you back?"

"Send me back? What do you mean by that, Explorer Ezreal?"

"Explorer Ez...right, guess that's about as good as I'll get. Yeah, send you back. I have no need of a servant, I'm good enough as a one man show as it is." Ezreal proudly points to himself, becoming more and more confident now that he is aware Karna does not seem to be hostile individual, furthermore and more importantly, Karna is the knightly type. Honour and all that stuff are their bread and butter, chances are he isn't a pathological liar or would think to stab their apparent master in the back "And I don't think you appreciate getting sent to who knows where and now stuck following the orders of someone, even if it's someone as famous and capable as me. I don't need the secratary work and you don't need said work to be pushed onto you."

"Hoh...How blessed am I? To have such a caring and considerate Mast- Explorer."

"Wait wait wait!" Ezreal waves his arms around wildly to interrupt Karna "Hey man, I just said you don't have to be a servant. Just tell me how to send you back, or how at least undo this master servant thing we got going on. I don't really like bossing people aroumd as is."

"There is nothing to say, I was created as a Servant to be your soldier, your tool to acheive your dreams, after all."

"Ugh, you aren't listening at all. You don't have to be my servant, besides..." Ezreal misunderstands Karna's words quite a bit, while the two are not on the same page usually, Ezreal does pride himself on his ability to infer information, and said ability indicates that Karna was likely born into a life of servitude or slavery, at least skmething along those lines "Just because you were born with certain expectations, doesn't mean you have to be stuck following them."

Of course, this was misunderstanding surrounding the fact that Karna was talking about his state of being a Servant rather than being a mere servant.

Confused?

To Karna, he is aware that a Servant was a hero who had held such fame and influence over humanity with his deeds and actions during life that upon his death, his essence of his prime was copied into the Throne of Heroes. When summoning a servant through the Holy Grail, they essentially copy paste the essence of a hero that was recorded into the relevant areas as Servant. In modern terms, a Servant is more akin to a ghost that is indistinguishable from normal people, literary created by the Grail to be used as a familiar by the designated Master.

"Of course, Explorer Ezreal. One's birth should not dictate one's path in life, just because I was born a servant does not mean I am limited in my potential." Karna was perceptive, he was capable and able to recognjse the misunderstanding completely, yet with his skill, Discernment of the Poor, he was able to recognise that Ezreal was completely honest with his beliefs.

Karna was not one for loosely wearing his emotions on his sleeve, though could be considered to be happy at Explorer's words. Gently reminiscing the time where he was not given a chance to test his archery skills against the royal Arjuna.

His status as a slave made the audience observing his challenge, mock and belittle him. Laughing at the concept of a low born commoner challenge royalty. While Karna held no hatred for them, remembered their vile words and harsh critisism.

This was mirrored in Explorer, yet rather than strongly believe against the common born, wholeheartedly thought that one's birth did not dictate one's life.

This caused Karna to smile, a small smile that at first glance was barely different to his usual expression, perhaps this summoning would be enjoyable-

Grrrrrr...

The resounding noise of Ezreal's stomach can be heard within the room, cutting off both of their thoughts.

"What the...I'm hungry? Dammit my sleep schedule and appetite are all over the place...no more all nighters in dungeons and tombs. Ok first things first, lets talk about all...this, tommorow." Ezreal was about to sleep anyway before he accidentally called upon Karna.

Moving over to a drawer gave Karna a bag of coins, and himself one, they were about equal size.

"I'm not too sure about what kind of food you like, but lets grab something quick. Ah, wait do you even use this kind of currency...right. Go for local carts, don't go to the market unless you want to get swindled." Ezreal quickly lists off a basic set of rules without giving Karna much of a chance to reply.

It was prompted, in Ezreal's eyes at least. He was tired, hungry, just had a bad streak of bad jobs and just got dropped bombshell after bombshell just after having complained about his life and situation so far within his head. And now apparently was in charge of looking after and apaprently the Master of a person, given way too muh responsibility way too soon.

In other words. Ezreal couldn't be assed and decided to think about it tommorow.

Ezreal left, leaving Karna to his own devices after kicking him out of Ezreal's makeshift camp. After wandering around a nearby town, grabbing a skewer of some sort of unidentified meat from a local stall made with shabby wood.

It was delicious.

The next morning, a passersby out hunting for breakfast had walked by the woods there were rumours about the lad that lived in a little wooden shack who was apparently going to leave soon after exploring a nearby tomb.

The hunter sighs, he saw types like that countless times. Young lads who had wanted to make a name for themselves by raiding mysterious artefacts and graves. But seeing such a young lad doing such a dangerous line of work while dancing with life and death rather than getting drunk with idiot friends and trying and failing to seduce a hot waitress in the local tavern, left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Just as the thought passes through the hunter's mind, he hears a distraught cry from deep within the woods.

"Lancer! What do you mean all the money I gave you is now gone?!"