PILTOVER
The Bridge of Progres
It was early dusk in the city of progress, the sun hadn't yet risen and a cold mist was rising from the still snow covered strees as winter remained to hold onto the city. Sheriff Grayson had on a thick fur linned coat as she walked across the bridge to see a small glow of a tobacco pipe being lit. There on the other side of the mist standing at the center of the bridge was Vander, he too was wearing an extra coat a long leather or hide fleece linned coat that kept the wolf of a man warm from the cold air around him. Grayson reached up for her helmet to remove it as she saw him "Vander, you got my message?"
"And you got mine." He said.
"I did, so you know the situation?"
Vander casually smoked his pipe as if nothing was wrong "A mage in Piltover, now ain't that something?"
"That's not the only something I've heard out of the undercity, seems we have two new recent arrivals?" Grayson said as she held her helmet under her arm walking up beside him.
Cocking a brod, unsure what she was getting at "I known for a while now you have a little orphange under that bar of yours, but your own flesh and blood coming into Piltover the same day as a Mage, what kind of officer of the law would I be not to notice the coincidence?" She asked.
"Thought the whole thing about coincidence was them being coincidences?" Vander asked her.
"I'm serious Vander, the Council has set a bounty, and ones lined up already outsider named Morningstar, means business?" Grayson said trying to stress the urgency.
The man simple smoked his pipe "And this Morningstar, any backup?" He asked.
"No, I was able to keep Enforcers off your turf as per our agreement, but I need to know, this mage, your susposed son?"
Vander's eyes bulged at her "Is that what your getting at, kids a scrawny farmboy no way he's the mage?" Vander asked and lied.
Still skeptical Sheriff Grayson pushed the issue "Coming over those mountains in the worse blizzard this cities seen since it's founding, how can you account for that without magic?"
"Good genes I suppose?" Vander said casualy, still lying.
Graysons hawkish eyes scanned Vanders relaxed face for any hint of lying, but he just looked back those big brown eyes casualy eyeing the Sheriff "Just thought I should check, and warn you about Morningstar."
"You tell him the Lanes don't take kindly to outsiders cuasing trouble?" Vander asked before she put her helmet back on.
"I'll be sure to give him a pamphlet listing out all the wonderful tourist spots Vander." She said giving him one final look "But the sooner this Mage is out of our city, the sooner things get back to normal." She said before she walked off into the mist back to Piltover.
Vander sucked on his pipe and breathed it out before he went back over to his side.
Later, The bounty hunter, Cletus Morningstar stood across the bridge looking over at the mysterious gateway to the undercity. His cold dark eyes scanned the horizon of mallooking buildings and green tinted lights rising from beneath. Behind him his servant the one in the strange mas kand bandana was driving a cart with three large cages covered in tarps, shaking violently and barking from underneath the tarp. Captain Marcus stood beside him as Sheriff Grayson stood with some of the enforcers before she noticed the cages.
"Mr. Morningstar, care to tell us what you've got in these cages?" She asked him.
The bounty hunter poked his black hat up and smiled, halfway at least "I'm hunting something magical, need magical hunters." He said banging on the cage when talons slashed out at him missing his face by inches.
"What are these things?" Captain Marcus asked looking inside, "Some friends I picked up when I was in Demacia helping their own Mageseekers with a pesky runaway, Fleetfeathers." Morningstar said pulling back the tarp to reveal three large silver feather eagle like avians with red paint on their bodies all wearing collars around their neck. The birds were all the size of a man with large wings banging against the cage.
Captain Marcus and his men backed away as the Sheriff looked at them "And your sure they won't be a problem?" Sheriff Grayson asked.
"As long as no one bothers them to do their job?" Morningstar reiterated.
Captain Marcus looked at the viscious eagles and smiled malicously "Why should we care what happens to any of the fisherfolk, be a good reminder to keep them in line." The glare he recieved from Grayson was worse then anything those talons the Fleetfeathers could do to him.
"The contract stipulates this rogue mage is to be captured alive, Morningstar?" Sheiff Grayson pointed out.
The bounty hunter slyly replied "I know, don't worry their house broken soon as they find him they'll come running back to take me to him." Morningstar replied as his valet climbed up onto the cages and looked down with a thumbs up. "Get to it you slag." He ordered, the Valet opened one cage after the other and from all three the Fleetfeathers let out shrill caws to signal their freedom flying out of the cages toward the undercity.
Meanwhile, down in the lanes, their prey was having his own educational moment "Alright put'em up." Vander said wearing two leather training gloves, stitched to have rounded heavily padded cushions to take hits without harming the wearer. Zachariah stood across from him in his black shirt and brown vest wearing a pair of boxing gloves, Vander and Zachariah were standing in the an old boxing gym, it was mostly empty except for the kids and Ekko sitting next to Powder watching Vander and Zachariah talk. Vi was hitting one of the punchning bags, with Clagger holding it for her while Mylo laid sprawled out on a bench.
Zachairah's shoulders dropped "I know how to fight."
"If thats what you call it?" Vi said taking a breather a few beads of sweat on her forehead.
The kids all laughed at the joke, as Zachariah felt himself embrassed remebring their first meeting, after the mugging, chase, and subsequential street long brawl "I held my own against you fox." Zachariah.
"Please, you only stayed up cause of that thick jacket you had on." Vi said sitting the parka.
Adding injury to insult Vander nodend "She has a point, any longer you'd have lost some teeth." Vander said. Zachariah felt the blow worse then Vi's punch "You can take a punch, thats usually the hardest part, but that wasn't fighting that was more… flailing with style?" Vander said trying to explain it "Now put'em up."
Zachariah smirked thinking it was pretty accurate, Vi may be a girl but she hit like a horse hoof "… you know I can throw fire from my hands, summong lightining and learn how to beat people up without touchingt them?" Zachariah whispered to Vander as he started to warm up hitting the pads on Vanders hands.
"… I do, but they don't and how many times can you get away without using it, you always need a back up plan son." Vander said behind the training gloves. Zachariah got into position standing up straight like he'd seen the fisticuff matches between the older boys and men during the harvest festival.
"No, no your stances is wrong, posture too." Vander said speaking up so as not to draw attention. "A poor stance is a good way to—" Vander suddenly swept Zachariahs feet out from under him "To get knocked on your ass."
The kids all luaghed as Zachairah hit the training ring matt with a loud thud, "I thought I was using my fists not my feet?"
Vander helped him up taking off one glove so he could pull the boy to his feet "Fighting is more then what you use to hit your opponet, you have to use strategy, plan out your attack, theres and counter, now hit me one two, one two." Vander made the gloves move in punching form before he got ready for Zachariah to try.
Zachariah stopped and Vander walked around to his twisted legs and misalligne shoes. He reached fo Zachariah and adustedh im accordingly into the right stance pushing his feet out and staightinging his back until Zachariah felt akward, but at the same time he could feel the difference. His punches were hitting the pads on Vanders hands with loud strikes of leather on leather. Vi glared over remembring when Vander trained her it wasn't nearly as relaxed, and she hated it.
"Now, hit me."
Zachariah punched then he punched again, "Harder." Vander said.
He started to put his weight into it "Harder Zachariah, people down here don't pull their punches neither can you."
Zachariah launched his gloved fists at the pads while the kids watched, both only Powder and Ekko were watching intently "So you really thinks he's his son?" Ekko asked in a whisper
"I dunno, they do look alike and Vander knew his name before we did?" Powder said looking at them.
Ekko scratched his pale hair "I dunno, nose is different?"
"Probably because Vanders got broke more times then we can count before we met." Mylo said as Vi overheard him.
Stopping her training she walked over "So we just have to break his nose and we'll know."
"Vi, no." Clagger said behind her.
"Vi yes." She said walking to the ring "Hey Vander why not you let me show him some stuff, some friendly sparring always helped me."
Vander halted the training and looked over hopeful Vi was finally warming up to him, pulling off his gloves he said "Well that's a swell idea Vi, Mylo go get the head gear." Their dad took off his training gloves and pulled the rope up for Vi so she could step into the ring. Zachariah kept his arms at his side as Vi knocked her gloves together looking at him the same way hunting dogs look at rabbits, he swore he could see a twitch in her eye. Clagger came up with the head gear and Vander took one waving over to the two of them. The head gear was an open face helmet with padding like the gloves around the face that would stop the gloves from doing any damage.
Vi let Clagger fit hers onto her head and Vander did it for Zachariah "This is a bad idea." Zachariah said "Of coruse it is, but you two need to get past whatever this is." Vander said.
"What this is, is that she hates me?" Zachariah whispered back as Vander put a mouthpiece in the boys teeth.
Vander rolled his eyes before he saw Vi, clapping her gloves together hard and loud "Well maybe, but she'll warm up." He said strapping the helmet down. Walking over to Clagger Vander said "Alright, this is a sparring match only, no kidney punches, rabbit punches, go easy on him Vi." Vander said as they both walked out.
"Now touch gloves." Vander instructed, Zachariah held his up and Vi tapped them before he said "No back to your corners." They both went back and then, Vander looked back over to Powder who was already standing by the bell and she smacked it with a nearby wrench for a loud.
DING
Zacariah walked out trying to keep the right form that Vander had shown him, his feet too, but while he was trying to remembr all that, Vi who it was second nature to went on the offenseve. Starting with some quick jabs, Zachariah raised his arms to block feeling the padded gloves smash into his arms. It wasn't as bad as her actual knuckles but they sure did rock him. Zachariah stepped back getting pushed up against the ropes "Kick his ass Vi!" Powder cheered.
"Oi, language Powder." Vander scolded.
"Oh right… KICK HIS BUTT!" She screamed.
Trying to dodge, whever he went Vi was already waiting for him "Come on Zachariah, hit back." Vander called. Looking for the right time, out of the corner of his eye between her blows he saw what looked like a good opportuinty and he flung his arm out to punch. Vi simply dodged it and let him stumble forward before he regained his footing. He came back around and she dove a glove right into the side of his head gear pushing him back to the ropes again. She then got him in the corner and started to go for the body making the breakfast they had this morning start to want to escape.
Vander slappes his forehead seeing how in a straight up boxing match, Zachariah had no chance "Alright, alright time." Vander called it.
Zachariah let out a sigh of relief as Vi backed off, happy with the licks she'd gotten in "Stick to farming new guy, the plants don't hit back." She teased.
Vander didn't say anything this time, partially agreeing as he stepped into the ring to walk over to his son "No one expected you to knock her out." Vander said patting him on the shoulder.
"And he never will! Vi shouted as Powder brought her over some water, confidnet she'd never have an issue fighting him one on one in fistacuffs.
Not paying attention to her glib remark Vander asked Zachariah "Didn't they teach you any fighting in that village?" He asked.
Pratically panting for air, Zachariah dropped his mouthpiece into his glove covered in spit "We fought, but that was wrestling in the mud, spats after a bad game of ball, I can't fight if I have rules?" Zachariah complained.
"Hard to disagree with that, but this is boxing, the rules are more of an… honor thing?" Vander explained.
"Honor?" He asked, looking over at Vi who was ready to go again.
Vander dusten off the gloves "Hardest way to fight."
Be brushed his gloves and then went to stand outside of the rings, "Alright, go touch gloves." Vander said, Zachariah relucatnly walked out and held his gloves up, Vi touched them and he turned around to walk back to the corner when he felt a hammer strike him from behind and he went down "VI!" Vander shouted when he hit the matt. Zachariah's ears were ringing when he rolled over to see Vander shouting at Vi who was walking back to get chewed out. He reeled from the cheap shot holding his head, it was throbbing in pain but it wasn't broken.
"Dammit VI, I said no cheapshots!" Vander shouted at her pointing at Zachariah who slowly started to get up.
"Oh come on Vander, not like anyone is going to pull their punches in the street for the new guy?" Vi argued.
"These ain't the streets Vi, you know that it's a damn sparring session not a brawl." Vander hissed at her from ringside pointing an accusing finger at her in a knifish manner. Zachariah looked down at the blood on his glove, caused by Vi, at worst he could see she'd get this stern talking to but was this also from yesterday? When he didn't fight her in the shop they were robbing, would this go on like that time in Hamlet. One of the Compton boys, Mean Martin they called him, he was getting larger then the other boys when he was ten, started pushing everyone around because he was bigger. No one had the guts to stand up to him till one day George Wesely got pushed one to many times and hit him so hard Mean Martin got knocked out. When Zachariah asked him about it George said he had no memory of ever hitting him, thats what Zachariah felt like right now before he did this.
Vi wasn't paying attention to him, as Vander shouted at her but out of the corner of his eye Vander saw Zachairah coming. "Zachariah no-" but he already had his fist behind his head, with one punch not holding a single ounce back Zachariah suckerpunched Vi so hard her loose headgear came flying off "VI!" Powder shouted as she went down. It all happened so fast, Zachariah was on top of her fists raining down on Vi without any restraint, he didn't just want to win he wanted to hurt her for being such a asshole to him since he arrived. Everyone rushed the ring to try and stop the attack, shouting and hollering for him to stop. But he couldn't hear anything except his gloved fists trying to break her face.
"CALL ME NEW GUY AGAIN, CALL ME NEW GUY AGAIN!"
By the time Vander pulled him off, Mylo, Clagger and Powder were checking on Vi, she was coming too in a dazed mess her face starting to swell up blood coming from inside her mouth, right eye now sealing shut from his attack. "Vi, vi wake up?" Powder said shaking her.
Vander held Zachariah in a bear hug starting to gain his hearing back, hearing whoever was shouting "CALL ME NEW GUY AGAIN, CALL ME NEW GUY YOU BLOODY-" It was him, he'd been screaming the whole time. By th time his heart had stoppped trying to break out of his chest he could see everyone looking at him while Vi, probably sporting a concussion now was wobbling her head back and forth. Zachariah looked down at his gloves seeing the red stains of blood before Vander went over to check on her. He lit a match and held it up Vi's face seeing if her eyes would dialte she blinked a few times her eyes reacting to the flame. Breathing a sigh of relief that she wasn't to badly hurt.
"Zachariah-" Vander started to say before he turned around to see only the gloves remained, as Zachariah had already ran out the door and into the undercity. Escaping away from the boxing gym, he didn't know where he was going he just felt the urge to run, to get as fara way from the mas possible. His anger had gotten out of control, what if he had used his magic, what if he had really hurt her. He ran down a flight of stone stairs, deeper and deeper into the under city, running into one of the many alleways he saw a large warehouse like building three times the size of any barn and slipped inside. Their was old abanonded machinery pilled up around him, a mountain of tires in the back and garbage linning the afloors but he was alone.
Wanting to pull at his hair, all he could do was grip at the roots of his extremly short hair and scream behind his teeth. How could he be so stupid to loose it like that, to hit a girl no less. Even if she was sparring with him he was just so, "AAAAAAH DAMN-FUCK-SHIIIIIIIIIIITE!" Zachariah shouted a sudden burst of magical energy repulsed around him sending trash and bits of broken glass around hm. The sudden expulsion of magical energy made him freeze, looking at his hands he could see the magical energy starting to pulse like his own heartbeat. Besides that ice spell he'd casted the other day he hadn't used any magic it was starting to build up to the point of breaking.
HAMLET,
Three Years ago
Zachariah held a small ball of magical energy between each of his hands as he sat under the tree on their farm. His grandfather was preparing tea across from him with a small flame and old tea set "Remember Zachariah, magic is life and life isn't just magical, it's also energy, like a tea kettle filled with water on a fire, when all that energy created by the heat has no where else to go, it'll look for any way to escape." He said as he poured the tea.
The younger Zachariah focused on the magical orb "Not only must you practice to keep your skills honed, you must also use the magical energy within yourself, or it'll become uncontrollable." Granpda said pouring two cups.
"And… if it does… become uncontrollable?" Zachariah asked him.
The old wizard sipped his tea, "A dam that is poorly maintaned cannot hold back the will of the river, nature demands that one must break, do you understand?"
Of course…. Thats why he was so upset, he was all clogged up, his mana was overflowing from inside him starting not just to effect his magic but his mental state. He needed to get it out of his system needed to let go. Looking around at the abanonded warehouse he glaned over at a piece of machinery and focused, seeing some burn marks on it, what could a few more do.
Raising his hands he made the signs, thought of the match that Vander used, the fire and with it a ball of fire ignited between the space in his hands, Zachariah drew his arm back like he was about to throw a ball and hurled the fireball at the machine scorching it. Looking for other targets he let fly more fire balls using his elemental magic that he hadn't used for to long, what else. The frost spell worked fine, wind; taking a deep breath he listened for the wind coming in from the broken windows and exhaled holding his arms up he moved the signs in the air and created a small tornado in one hand drawing his fingers around it to make it bigger he set it down on the floor like a top, spinning and spinning it scooped up the loosest and lightest of trash making it dance around him.
Starting to feel better, he heard some drops of water falling from a broken pipe, he looked at the small pool it was falling into, coming over he looked at it. Water magic had always been something of a tricky one for him for Zachariah, the other elements were all well enough to understand. Grandpa had explaind the elements were like emotions and required certain thoughts to use them. Fire was strong it required a determined mind to cast flame spells, a willingness to embrace the power instead of being afraid of it. Earth was substance, it was diverse and enduring, the spells required perseistence above all else. Granda would also describe wind as a liberal element, that one didn't need to concentrate but instead let go and flow with the wind like a leaf. Last was water, always changing, always molding to wherever it was, the spellcaster had to adapt to the situation which made it hard for Zachairah.
Probably because he never expected his life to change like this, reaching to the water, he felt magic around his hand and began to move his hands to draw the runes and the puddle of water rose up like a headless serpent before he made a blob of it float in front of him. Grandpa had said once true aquamancers could create water from the very air itself, but for now he'd have to settle fore sewage water. Spinning it around him Zachairah saw his fire spell was bruning some garbage and he quickly doused it with the water before he sighed in relief feeling the magical energy inside him start to level out.
Pacing a few steps he stepped in something that had a crunch under it, looking at his boots he saw some sand spilling out of a container, earth.
Zachariahs mind flashed back to the Magehunter he killed, the earth swallowing him up, killing him.
No, he could't let that stop him from using magic, he still regretted it, he always would but he had to get through this. Kneeling down he put hish and on the sand and drew ruins in it, first the main symbol for earth, then the additonal runes in a circle to seal it and finally the molding ruins to give the earth form. He pressed his hand on them and the ruins glowed out of the sand, it started to rise like the water but formed a solid mass that began to take the shape of the one person Zachariah wanted to see more than anyone.
Grandpa.
A sand statue formed in front of Zachairah, takng the shape of his teacher, it was softed and not entirely sharp, but Zachairah could see his Grandpa's face in the sand. The same smiling face of white hair and baggy robes, a gut the size of a barrel poking out. "I made it Grandpa…" Zachairah said to the golem. "…. Why didn't you ever tell me, that I was from here, that my Da was here?" He asked it in a whisper knowing they wouldn't respond. "Why send me here if you never wanted me to know?" He asked putting his hand back on the glowing runes to break the spell before it fell down into a pile of sand to reveal Vander standing in the warehouse entrance.
The two looked at one another for a long time "How's Vi?" Zachariah asked.
"She'll be okay, I told the others to take here home, we should talk." Vander said walking in.
"Look I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" "No, no, stop look Vi's had it rough, when I'm not around she's the one who looks after the kids, she can be a bit… overprotective." Vander said interruptingh im. Zachariah held his tongue as his father talked to him "I shouldn't have let you sparred with her, but you can't use magic like this, you'll expose yourself?"
Zachariah stepped forward "And if I don't stuff like that will happen again?"
Confused, Vander starred at him "My magic, all magic, if a mage doesn't use their magic it'll find a way out on its own, burn me up from the inside."
Vander processed it "Like having to take a piss?" He asked.
Not as elegant as Grandpa would put it but "Yes, like a piss, I need a place to let it out, to practice it like Vi does with boxing?" Zachariah said.
"So, that fit, that anger that was because you weren't using magic?" Vander asked.
"From what I can tell yeah, I feel better now and…" Zachariah just shrugged, Vander looked around the warehouse seeing the fresh burns, the steaming garbage and kicked up trash etc.
Vander walked over to the old machine "Hmmm, that complicates things."
"How, this place worked out pretty well, nobody saw me?" Zachairah asked him, Vander approached him and began to speak as one of the Fleetfeathers with red paint on it, saw them and flew off back to the upper city, to it's master.
Meanwhile, not far from them heading into the Last Drop again, Vi was leaning on Clagger and Mylo as they walked. "Man he really got you, again." Mylo said.
"Cheap shot…" Vi said "… kick his ass, next time I see him." Vi said, she had been cleaned up and her lip was swollen along with her eye. Powder looked up to see one of the Fleetfeathers flying above them before she followed them along.
"Well, you have been kind of hard on him?" Clagger said.
Vi grunted back at him as they walked in to a loosely filled bar, only a few patrons were inside it at miday, "Its been barely a week since he arrived." Vi grumbled.
"Yeah but, you didn't see how pissed Zachariah was." Mylo said sitting her down in one of the booths, Clagger walked over to the bar and picked out a cloth putting some ice in it from the cold box.
Clagger gave her the makeshift cloth of ice, she laid it on her eye wincing at the cold touch before she relaxed into it "On a first name basis eh?" She asked.
"I mean… he did save me from Wellington." Mylo replied.
Vi unconvicned replied "Thought you said he tripped?"
Mylo glancem at Clagger who were both shared a few glances, "Yeah he did, then Zachariah grabbed me before I got crushed."
"He did save Powder to?" Clagger pointed out.
Vi grumbled under her breath when Vander walked in with Zachariah, who walked over to Vi who started to sit up and then stood putting the ice on the table. "… You okay?" He asked.
"… been hit harder." Vi said, feeling her jaw.
"I did cheap shot you so, whatever." Vi replied.
Zachariah wanted to say something glib but he held his tongue, he really wanted to be alone so he looked around for his bag, maybe he could catch up on some reading "Where's my bag?" He asked.
Clagger shrugged, Mylo also shook his head as Vi smiled looking over at Powder who had Zachariahs bag next to her as she was scribbling crayons into a coloring book but it was actually his copy of his Misadventures of Lina Inverse "What are you doing!" Zachariah scrambled to pick the book up seeing one of the illustrations was filled with crayon drawings over the illustration of Lina Inverse in a battle with a rock gollem "What, I'm making it better."
"I wasn't even to this part yet." Zachariah snapped.
"Hey lay off her, its not like books are worth anything down here." Vi said coming to her sisters defense.
Zachariah starred at her dumbfounded "Can you guys even read?" He asked.
"Vi can read, I can read a bit, Clagger can you read?" Mylo asked him, Clagger just answered "uhhhh."
Zachariah grumbled to himself picking up his books and carrying them out of the room, he climbed the stairs back into the bar avoiding the crowd to go upstairs, looking for sompace quiet he felt a draft coming by a nearby window. He poked his head seeing he was on the second floor of the Last Drop, there was a balcony with a ladder on it leading to the roof, climbing out, he was skinny enough now but after eating breakfast he could tell that long malnourshied body of his was taking every ounce of protien it could get. He scalled the ladder up to the roof and looked around, there were a lot of building around him a lot of windows not a really good spot to pracitce magic. He walked the length of the roof looking out on the under city till he spotted a small corner walking over to it faced another buildings blank brick wall going deeper he couldn't see any windows, or places someone besides a bird could spot him doing magic. Sitting down he looked into his book on Lina Inverse and grumbled at all the crayon markings powder had made, then again he shouldn't be suprised George would always tell him about the time he would scribble charcol on stuff as a kid Powders age. But what was he going to study tonight, his elemental magic was fine as he could tell. Grandpa always taught him it was the foundation of most magics, sitting down he reached through is books picking out the book on Animetation by the sorcerer Yinsid, he'd found an intresting chapter about the warnings of leaving animated objects alone for to long, the author, Yinsid had his likeness drawin inside the book, a thick bushy browed man with a long grey beard, no mustache and pointed hat with stars and moons on it that let him channel his magic more fluidly. The chapter refered to his apprentice trying to shuck chores by animated a broom to fill water from a bucket and refill the castles water supply. The apprentice nearly drowned the castle in the process so he started there.
When animated an object, the magic required should be the same to the object, enchanting a broom to sweep is simple, as it is the brooms nature. Anything else will result in less then adequate results, see the dangers of leaving ones magical totem out for your apprentice to find. Multiple items like a tea set to produce tea requires magic to each individual peiece, this is not the same for multiple pieces working interconnected such as a carriage.
A carriage enchanted with magic will drive itself so long as there is someone to guide it, additonal spells are required for such practices, it best to start with small items to better practice the art of animation.
Zachariah looked around the roof was covered in junk, broken glass, a few chairs that he assumed the kids would sit in. Getting up he looked at the nearest chair and focused, flipping through the pages to find the right rune symbols he found one that read 'move' in runes.
Drawing the air with his fingers, he mouthed the spell and focused on the chair.
Nothing.
Until the chair creaked, the chairs legs started to crack and moan before all four of chair legs moved like a dogs after a long sleep it wobbled around a bit and Zachariah stood walking over to it "Huh, nice." Zachariah said before the chair turned its head to him. "Hmmm, here boy?" Gesh asked whistling to it the chair scurried over to him and stood up right, exactly like a dog.
"Okay, lets see." Zachariah turned around and sat down on the chair but instantly the chair bucked him and ran around the rooftop making creaking whimpering noises it ran around the roof before a dragonfly caught it's attention the chair started to follow it like it was a game jumping around "Whoa, whoa hold on." Zachariah said trying to wrangle the chair but it kept running to different corners of the roof before it jumped on the edge.
"Uh oh." Zachariah said before the chair leapt off after teh dragonfly and went right down to the street shattering into splinters.
Zachariah slapped his forehead again, "Okay, animation needs more practice." He said to himself.
Walking back over to the books, he scoured through a few others seeing if he could learn something new. From one of the many miscellanous ones he found a book entireld The Prestige of Illusions by Nalon Rephtotischc, like most of his wizarding books their was an introductions
The art of illusisons is often considered a parlor trick of magic, but can be just entertaining and terrifying as alchemic or elemental magics. Illusions do not require a great deal mana, will power or strength. Rather a keen imagination and a willingness to expand ones horizons.
N. Rephtotischc
The book had multiple chapters on differrent subjects,
An Introduction
The basics of Illusions 1 Doodlebug trials 7 Following Illusions out of Reality 8 Magica Memento 20 Fear to the Uniniated 25 Dream Magic 31And so on, and so on, he looked at the chapters and then spotted one chapter that intrigued him
Self Projection 55He turned to the page and read the following passage
Self Projection is the spell casting of copying ones persona and projecting it as a sort of ghost, or mimic that will move or do as you do. It requires the mage casting the spell to project thier own mental image of themselves into the either. This is not be done by someone who is at not first peace with themsevles, by trying to cast a mental image of one self with things such as self doubt, dismorphia or an inflated ego the spell backfire and the caster will not recognize themself. See runes below and hand motions for casting, if without a wand, staff or other magical totem.
The runes were different from ones he knew, there were the basic circle spells to channel the spell, but other runes were more complex, just as Nalon had enscribed. He practiced them repeteadly till his fingers started to get sore before he decided to give it a try.
He looked at a spot on the roof and began to cast the runes, blue rings began to form in front of him, then smaller ones filling with runes around them, all drawing into the center of the encantation and finally a form started to appear in front of him, like on the mountain but smaller his size. And finally…. "What the hell?" Zachariah gasped.
Standing in front of Zachariah was not him, but half of two different versions sown together, one side of him looked like he'd never left Hamlet. His hair was still long, his cheeks full, body strong with fat and muscle wearing the same out door clothes he'd wear to plow the fields. On the other side that was his traveling garments, holding onto his staff draped in the murk wolf cloak and minotaur garments. Looking down at his hands the mimic did the same and moved as he moved like in the spell. This must have been what he was warned about backfiring and it had, big time.
He checked the book rereading the part that said 'his is not be done by someone who is at not first peace with themsevles, by trying to cast a mental image of one self with things such as self doubt, dismorphia or an inflated ego the spell backfire and the caster will not recognize themself. ' You got that right Nalon, Zachariah thought in his head reading down.
Mimics based on the magical energy put into the illusion, only last as long no one touches the mimic, stronger mimics can be touched, even move around on their own with the caster subconcious copying them in different ways, if anyone does the magic is ruined and the mimic vanishes.
Zachariah walked up to the Mimic and it moved towards him before they touched hands and the mimic poofed into magical smoke before blowing away. He still had a lot to learn it seemed, but it be hard to find a teacher in Piltover since they tried to arrest him for just being a mage. Pacing a bit he wasn't really studying anything more or less trying spells out, that ware house would be a good place to practice. No one to see him, no one to bother him up on the roof there was so much noise around him. Maybe, no he hadn't even thought of it since arriving, the Staff.
Looking to the door, Zachariah walked back inside and made his way downstairs where he saw Vander pouring three drinks at once juggling the bottles around as a group of hard men were waiting for their drinks unamused "Hup hup… here we go." Vander said as he tossed two large cups into the air and shook the third in his hands before the two landed and he topped the moff before juggling them back up and spinning one on his finger and sliding them down his broad shoulders onto the counter in front of the three hard men who all looked at one another "Pay up." Vander said holding his hand out, all three of them produced a fat purses of money dropping them in Vanders paw.
"Word of advice, don't doubt the man who pours the drinks." Vander said as he flung the coins over his shoudler to where he saw Powder catch them.
When he spotted Zachariah, the old wolf picked up a dirty glass "Everything arlight with you and VI?"
"More or less, hey you wouldn't happen to know where my sta- stick is?" He asked.
Vander stopped his cleaning "You're stick?"
"Yeah, I… I need it." Zachariah said.
Vander looked over at Powder, "Powder, go get me some cherries from the fridge would you?" He asked.
Powder did so looking over her shoulder at them as Vander leaned in closer "This about what we talked about earlier?"
"Kind of, look I can't go into it right now but ma- people like me, they use stuff like my stick to you know, focus?" He whispered up to his dad.
Vander scratched his beard, "… just do it out doors and out of isight." Vander hushed.
"Already ahead of you Da, I'm on the roof."
"Oh so its not raining chairs eh?" Vander said before he reached into his pocket and produced a key, "Cabinet in the back of the office, go." Vander said as Zachariah took the key and hurried away. Before suddenly Vander felt someone almost knock him off his feet, he looked down to see Zachariah hugging him. Vander patted him on the side before Zacharia went back up stairs.
Vander heard snickering them, turning his face to the bar the last drop had everyone looking at him before he grunted "Problem eh?" He asked in a serious tone. Everyone went back to their own business in a chaotic shuffle before someone planted a empty mug on the counter. It was Sevika with her usual scowl and cigar in mouth sneering at him.
"Another round Sev?" Vander asked grabbing a bottle.
Sevika let him pour "What was that Vander?" She asked in a low tone.
"What was what?" Vander asked getting back to cleaning the glass he started with. She gulped down her sip and wiped her mouth with her cigar hand taking out the tabacoo stick and spitting in the spatoon to speak clearly.
"You look soft, letting that boy in?" Sevika said talking about Zachariah.
Vander didn't pay much attention or at least pretended not to, "Ain't nothing soft about taking care of our own?"
"He's not our own, heard he came from a farm, green trees and fields, clear water, he's not much better than a Piltie." Sevika said as Vander picked another dirty glass.
"Good thing he ain't." Vander wiped the glass clean and set it down looking at her in a hard manor that was to remind Sevika who was the boss and who wasn't. Any more debate was ended by the sound of someone new coming in spurs jingling with every step. Walking into the Last Drop in his black hat and coat was Morningstar, he pushed past anyone who was unlucky enough to get in his way, his gas masked and hooded assistant followed him with a big pack on their back weighing them down as Morningstar approached the bar and dropped a very large bag of coin on it.
Vander walked over slowly and leaned forward "What'll it be stranger?"
"Whiskey, and information." He said under his hat.
Vander looked at the purse and then at the stranger, then over at his minion "And you small fry?" He asked.
"None for them, just me." Morningstar said, Vander knodded patting his hand on the bar before he started to get a bottle ready and a cup poured, Sevika huffed out a cloud of her cigar and then back at Vander pouring his drink "Now, a drink thats easy, information what kind?"
"The new kind, new faces, new people." Morningstar said, Vander kept his face like stone as he finished the pour and set the bottle down.
Taking out his own pipe and lighting it Vander huffed "New faces, this is the lanes, new faces come through here all the time, you should try the docks people from all over there."
"But your the man to talk to down here, so they say, Hound?" Morningstar said lifting his hat up so the two could look eye to eye.
Vander rose up full height to him, he was taller then Morningstar but not by much, "Is that what they say friend?"
Morningstar picked up his whiskey and took a drink "Lets not waste each others time here, I'm looking for someone who doesn't belong here, the Mage who fled into the Undercity, you know everything there is that goes on in this part of the city. And a mage in Pitlover can't be good for business, let me get rid of it for you?"
Vander thought it over scratching his chin "Come to think of it, I did see something strange?"
Morningstar smirek, "Man pulled a rabbit out of his hat last week wasn't it Sevika?"
"It was his ass." Sevika said making some of the bar patrons laugh, Morningstar however didn't and in a flash he pulled out a revolver pointed right at Vanders face, apprently Morningstar didn't think it was as funny as the rest of the bar. Right after a dozen people stood up at the sight of the gun and the minion at Morningstars back sprung back around holding a blunderbuss cocked and loaded, shaking their masked head back and forth at the crowd.
But Vander.
Vander wasn't even phazed at looking down the barrel at the gun, "You sure you want to do this, 'friend'?" Vander asked Morningstar.
"All I want-" Morningstar took another drink and smiled "Is a little information."
Vander looked at the cun like it was a toy "Six bullets, to bad there aren't just six of us in here?"
"My assistant has a pingent for grape shot." Morningstar said as he sniffed the whiskey.
Vander kept his amused smirk, "Hmm, then go ahead." Vander leaned into the barrel making the whole bar tense up, Vander grabbed the pistol and pressed it into his head. Morningstar's face went blank "You come to my place, draw a gun on me, you better be willing to pull the trigger." Vander said before Morningstar uncocked the gun slowly.
"Guess we'll take our business elsewhere." Morningstar said slowly starting to back away from Vander and to the door, they kept their guns all the way till they got out. Sevika looked at Vander "I'll take care of him."
Vander gruntem "No, he's after the Mage, I've already got someone on it, he won't be staying long." Vander said.
"Wait, you know about this mystery mage running around, I thought that was a rumor?" Sevika asked.
"No, they'll be gone soon." Vander said watching the door "But not soon enough." Vander said walking out from behidn the bar and starting to head upstairs to his office.
Up in the office, Zachariah had found his staff inside one of the cabinets along with a quadruple barreled shotgun, a sword, some sort of shark cannon, a chainsaw. Along with the weapons he saw Grandpa's Hat and red scaled coat, he rubbed his fingers over the scaley hide reminiscing about the lessons he had with Grandpa. Whenver he had an issue with a spell Grandpa would tell him how to get around it what to think, feel, now he had to figure it out himself. Taking the staff Zachariah started to walk out when Vander came in "Put it back." He said.
"What?"
"We've got a problem." Vander said walking toward the the window and looking out, he saw Morningstar walking to the end of the street with his minion heading into another building boarded up and with no sign out front, most likely abandoned. Zachariah followed him and Vander looked up to see the three Fleetfeather birds, Zachariah followed his gaze and went pale seeing the falcons. Dropping the staff Vander hear it hit the floor "What is it?" He asked.
Pointing up at the avians "Fleetfeathers, there birds that feed on magical creatures."
"And that includes…?" Vander started to ask.
"Yeah, mages, they have this thing where they hunt in packs pick the food up and rip it apart in the air before-" "I get the picture, now we get a plan, you got a bounty hunter after you?"
Vander's saw Zachariahs green eyes get wide and his jaw go ajar, he slapped himself in the head "Magehunters, Bounty Hunters and now magical eating birds, great all we need now is giant tentalce monster from another dimension and we're set." Zachariah said.
"This is serious son." Vander whispered to him.
Zachariah flung his hands in the air "I make jokes when I'm scared shitless- let me cope!" Vander snapped as Vander held his hands up seeing he'd ticked him off.
"Alright, arlight, the Magehunters how'd you get away from them, same tricks work well for a reason?" Vander asked.
"Running always helped, and I did have some help from a winter storm." Zachariah explained
Scratching his beard Vander thought through idea after idae "Running isn't an option and we got no storms here, I've got a friend working on a way to make everyone forget about the mage, but we need to find a way to get rid of the bounty hunter, what are the chances those birds are his?" Vander asked looking at the fleetfeathers perched around the Last Drop.
"Most likely." Zachariah guessed his voice wirey.
Vander sat down in his chair, "You're staying inside tonight, we'll deal with this tomorrow." Vander said grabbing the staff and putting it away in the cabinet "You're staying with the rest of the kids in the basment tonight, so I know where you all are."
Zachariah kept his eye on the building that Morningstar and his minion had gone into, looking at the key in Vanders hand he slipped it into his desk and sat down to think. Not saying much Zachariah was about to speak but he already knew what the answer would be if he asked. Heading out he made a quick jump to the roof to grab his books and heard the fleetfeathers squawk at him before he hurried back in worried they'd bring Morningstar.
Walking back down stairs he headed into the basement where he saw his step siblings gathered around looking in the cramp quartes he aw Vi had her own bed, Powders under hers. Along with both Clagger and Mylo had different sleeping arrangments Clagger a bunk built into the wall with Mylo swinging in a hammock working on a toy gun of some kind. Looking around Zachariah found a couch and sat down in silence before he cupped his hands together. What was he thinking, he was safe here, he could have a family, a family he now put in danger. It wasn't right he let Vander fight his battle even if he was his father, a man should own up to his mistakes, fix them if he can.
This bounty hunter was after him, so he was going to let him have him.
No more running.
When night did finally fall on Piltover and the undercity, Zachariah waited to be sure all the kids were asleep in the basement. Mylo snored, Clagger digeted in his sleep, Powder was as quiet as a mouce except for the occasional twitches she let out. Vi was the last one to fall asleep, every so often he would catch her watching him before she fell asleep too the tell was rising and falling of her chest before he slowly sat up. Holding his boots in his hands Zachariah gently stepped over the boards listening for any of the loose boards that would creak or make a noise.
He made a note he'd need to try and learn some sort of sneaking magic if he had to do this again.
By the time he'd made it to the to the bar it was totally empty, heading upstairs without his boots to stay quiet, he came to Vanders door and reached for it before he saw the knob start to move. Zachariah nearly jumped out of his own skin before he jumped into the nearby bathroom and hid behind the shower curtain to see Vander walking out. He didn't look over his shoulder at his son, Zachariah followed him to see Vander go down the stairs and to the Last Drop door. Zachariah saw him go out and heard him lock it up before he went into the Under City. Zachariah went to the door to the office and opened it heading to the cabinet in the corner he opened to to get his staff.
This was it, he had to find a way to get rid of the Bounty Hunter.
He was about to leave when he looked back at the coat, pulling it out he noticed the hat sitting crumpled up in the back, picking it up he thought maybe he could use it to cover his head, hide his face he lifted it up and put it on his head before it fell down around his ears, to big. The coat was too but he could roll the sleeves up enough and button the frock at the end, as he started to do that he noticed the collar had a zipper on each end pulling them together Zachariah noticed it turned into a hood, slipping his still skinny arms into the coat sleeves and throwing it on he found a nearby mirror to see what he looked like with the staff, a red scalley mass of a coat with a hood shadowing his face and the staffs feint blue glow from the rune stone embedded in the top. Not much a disguise but it would have to do.
Zachairah walked out, headed to the roof and looked up to see the fleetfeathers still circling overhead, if they were what were after him then he had to lead them away. He crouched low and snuck over to the edge of the roof and saw a nearby pipe, hoping he'd picked up some of the skill Vi and her siblings used to traverse the rooftops he walked out ont othe pipe trying not to look down crossing to the other roof when he heard a loud caw of a bird. Looking up he saw the Fleetfeathers screeching their beaks off before flying after him. Zachariah jumped from the pipe down to a pile of trash that looked just soft enough to land on, landing on it with a hard loud crunch a few people in the street at this hour noticed him Zachariah kept his hood pulled low as the birds chased after him. Across the quarter the loud screeching echoed, bringing Morningstar and his minion out of their hiding spot. "The hunt is on, give it to me" Morningstar said turning to his minion who reached into the bag of weapons and pulled out the butt of what looked like a gun but in reality was a large crowsbow with a barrel of bolts like a magazine of bullets attached to it.
Back in the streets Zachariah ran in no particular direction, but away from the Last Drop while the Fleetfeathers swooped at him with their tallons, he felt them slap at his coat before he swung the staff pack focusing on the birds, the blue runestone went bright and a flurry of ice sickles launched out toward the birds. In the corner of his eye he saw one of the birds get skewered on them falling to the ground but the other two were still chasing him. One dive bombed him and Zachariah felt it sink its talons into his shoulders and start to pick him up, but for some reason the talons didn't break the coat. Zachariah's legs flailed as the other bird came up and grabbed onto his boot peaking at him with it's beak.
"There you are." Morningstar said lining up his crossbow when he and half the undercity saw two big birds getting ready to rip a random mage to shreds.
Zachariah squeezed his staff trying to think of a spell to get out of this, these were birds, what did birds hate more than anything, and the only thing he could think of was when Madam the barn cat would catch and eat sparrows. Holding her in his minds eye he pointed his staff at the fleetfeather knawing at his leg and out from the crystal sprouted a flaming red cats head that consumed the fleetfeather. It screeched in terror as it's feathers caught on fire and the other bird panicing let go of Zachariah for him to start to fall twenty stories down. Morningstar saw his chance go and started to run to where Zachariah would fall. And while he was falling Zachariah remembered he didn't know any levitation spells, all he could think of was
"Sheild!" Zachariah snaped.
And just like in the noxian tent with Draven, Zachariah was engulfed in a bright blue bubble of magical energy before hitting the cobbled stone, he was suspended inside it for just a second before the sheild bounced right back up carrying a screaming Zachariah in it before coming back down right onto a slanted set of stairs that sent him bouncing down the undercity streets like a ping pong ball. Morningstar who'd caught up just in time to see him go pinging away smirked to his minion "What's your plan Mage?" He asked.
Zachariah had no plan, he was just trying to maintain his magical focus so the shield didn't break as he ricocheted off street, building wall and back and forth between two light polls before he was shot right through a billboard and into another part of the undercity before rolling to a slow halt at the edge of a cannopy. Zachariah dropped his staff to dizzy to focus anymore and the shield evaporated. Getting up Zachariah's world was spinning into focus to see a trashcan stumbling over to it he puked into the trashcan and wiped his mouth pressing his hand to his forehead he cast a quick healing spell to get over the dizziness and felt immediently better if not a bit drained from the magic. Looking around there were a few under citizens looking at him whisepring "…. What the hell…. Who's that…. The mage…?" Zachariah scooped up his staff and scanned the skies for the last fleetfeathr, there!
He could see it coming over the buildings like trees, heading for him, alright two down one to go, he was far away from the Last Drop now, and the bird was in the air, he took the staff with both hands and locked onto the bird looking at the trashcan he had an idea. The fleetfeather screeched and started to beat its wings faster getting lower and lower it aimed it's spear beak at him and dove wings flat in full comitment, Zachariah held his ground before he flung his left arm out to the trashcan and lifted it with magic right in the direction of the bird before it could pull up flying right into the trashcan, Zachariah grabbed the nearest lid and slammed it on top of the can before he ran to the nearest ledge of the city and flung it off into the river below.
Panting from using so much magic, Zachariah smiled "And that…. Makes… three."
Suddenly something hard and fast hit him in the back like rock, Zachariah gasped pressed against the railing and looked behind to see Morningstar recocking his crossbow "Do you know how much I spent on those damn birds." Morningstar said lining up another shot.
Zachariah looked for his staff next to him and dove for it to before Morningstar let off another bolt, the mage cast a shield to block it before it could go right between his eyes. "Shield spell, I got something for that." Morningstar said reaching for his sidearm, he unholstered the revovle. In the split second he could see, Zachariah noticed the reolver had runes carved into the barrel, it was a magic gun. Morningstar cocked the lever unloading it at him Zachariah watched the bullets rip through his shield and ducked his head and closed his eyes expecting to die. But instead they didn't feel like bullets more like being flicked with pepples.
"What…" Morningstar gasped as his reolver had no effect, Zachariah unflinched and saw the bullets fall from his coat into the street, standing up he looked at the scaley coat "oooooh I see, dragon scale coat, clever mage." Dragon sales? He thought, Grandpa's coat was made of a dragons hide no wonder the talonsa nd bullets hadn't ripped into it. Everyone from Archmages to pig farmers new dragon scales were stronger than steel, and now as he found out bullets. Zachariah looked up at Morningstar who was smiling "And here I thought this would be borning." Morningstar said as he dropped the crossbow and twirled his pistol back into his holster.
Zachariah than noticed his assitant coming up with the bag, "Whip." Morningstar ordered.
"Whip?" Zachariah asked. The valet opened the weapon bag and brought out a long spiked iron chained whip which Morningstar uncoiled and cracked in front of him, "ooooooh, whip." Zachariah said getting he actually meant a literal whip.
Said whip was flying right at him "Whip." Zachariah said raising his staff to block, but Morningstar yanked the staff right out of his hands.
"Oh no." Zachariah said before Morningstar held up his other pistol shooting.
"Oh yeah." He said shooting a crossbow bolt at him.
Zachariah cast an earth spell and the cobbled street lifted up in front of him blocking the bullets, Morningstar ran around to see Zachariah gone running to the edge of the bridge he saw Zachariah had jumped off it and was running along a dock. The bounty hunter leapt after him shooting and Zachariah saw the wood blow around him before he fled into a boat yard. He had to get his staff back he had to if he was going to stand a chance. Running behind one of the larger boats he peaked out to see Morningstar wondering around looking for him one hand holding his pistol the other his staff. Zachariah raised his hand and called to it to come but it didn't even though he could see the stick wobbling.
Morningstar held it up and moved his arm slowly like a dog sniffing for prey "Telekenetic magic, pretty basic stuff unless the item your trying to grab is being held in a hand of somewhere whereing an anti magic ring." Morningstar chuckled when Zachariah spotted a ring with a red ruby in it pulsing, cancelling out his magic. "Though it does help when the mage trying to take what I'm holding, has a magical signature that gets stronger the closer the item gets." Morningstar added looking right over at Zachariah, raising his gun.
"Shite." Zachairah ducked behind cover hearing the bullets spark against the metal boat, he ran down the dock he was on deeper into the yard of boats, with Morningstar running along the other docks. Bullets whizzed overhead and around as Zachariah tried to find another place to hide.
But everytime thought he found a place it exploded from a gunshot, finally he stopped and looked up to see the weapons valet standing on the bridge holding a long sniper rifle with a scope pointed at him. Zachariah felt another round of bullets pelt him in the back from Morningstar, the dragonscale coat taking the brunt of it as he was knocked down near the edge of the dock he was on. Zachariah heard the bounty hunter start to reload "You're a fast one mage, but no speed spells I reckon." Zachairiah looked down at the water he could maybe make a cloud of steam but that would require a lot of fire, looking at his own reflection when he remembered the spell he was having trouble with. It required absoulte focus, a clear vision of himself in his minds eye and he was looking right at one in his own reflection in the water. Slowly getting up he quickly drew the ruins in the air and cast the spell. Before Morningstar or his valet could get another shot magical light rushed from Zachariahs hands and the dock soon filled with copy after copy after cop of Zachariah all of them looking just like he did in the red scale coat and hood, and like Zachariah they all stood up at the same time on the docks, boats, some even hanging from the sails.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me?" Morningstar said before he raised his gun, Zachariah turned to run all of his dopplegangers were scrambling over one another. Zachariah moved among the docks bumping into his dopplegangers. At first he was confused but than he remembered how the spell worked, the more magic, the more concetnration the mimics could become more solid and independent right now they were all running from Morningstar who let out a furious yell. He started shooting randomly into the crowd of Zachariahs the mimics exploding into magical sparks. Even the valet was shooting at them to thin their numbers looking for the real Zachariah.
As he ran around he knew this would be the best chance he'd have to get his staff back, moving around the nearest boat he saw the two foes shooting at the various copies he'd made, finally Morningstar flung Zachariahs staff down and drew his second gun and started shooting. Zachariah ran for the staff reaching for it and out of the corenr of his eye Morningstar saw him "GOT YOU!"
Morningstar flipped his empited revolver and pistol whipped Zachariah across the jaw knocking him down, to the ground the sudden hit made every copy go up in smoke before Zachariah turned over seeing Morningstar's white hair blew wildly as he reloaded his gun, "Heheh, boy I havebn't had this much fun on a hunt in so long. I was expecting spells, magical traps, maybe even a summoning but no, you just do a bit of hocus pocus and then run off, squirelly little mage." He said as Zachariah backed away up against the dockside.
Zachariah was getting desprate, he held his hand up the knot in his stomach when he first killed was coming back "S-stay back, I don't want to hurt you."
Smirking Morningstar took aim "Oh you won't." "Because I will." A gruff voice said behind him, Morning star looked back to see fist the size of a bear paw smash into him, and in that instant Zacharia saw Vander standing over him, "Run son!" Vander said before Morningstar raised his pistol to shoot, Vander kicked it out of his hand making it fly into the water before Vander drew his fist back to hit him again. Morning star kicked Vanders feet out from underf him and summersaulted backwards off the ground and onto his feet, Vander jumped back up to his feet.
"Son eh, guess daddies not the magical one." Morningstar said spitting out blood, holding ups his hands to fight him, "Is mummy joining us?" Morning star asked mimicing Vanders accent.
Crouching low like a wolf on the hunt, showed his knuckles like fangs "Oh trust me lad, she'd be much woman for the both of us." Vander went in and Morningstar was taking off guard by Vanders speed, a flurry of punches and jabs made Morningstar move bac kand out of the way, before he raised his arms to block one fist "And here I thought you were just some undercity barkeep, now I know why they call you Hound of the Under-OOOOOF." Vander through a low punch right into Morningstars gut making the witch hunter collaspe to his knees vomiting up his lunch.
"Hound, barkeep, all you need to know is you hurt one of my kids you white haired bounty hunting son of a bitch-" Vander grabbed Morningstar by his coat "Your arse is mine."
Zachariah scrambled out of the way of the fight scurrying to the start of the docs, where he saw a big glob of a man appear grabbing him, he had receding brown hair a green shirt on, with overalls "Who are you?" Zacharia hasked as the man was Benzo.
"It's alright lad, names Benzo friend of your dads." Benzo said grabbing hold of him.
Zachariah turned around looking over the barrel as Vander opened the biggest can of whoopass on the Witchhunter. Vi watched Vander through an uppercut, right hook, left hook, a headbut, blocking a counter and then a haymaker that landed so hard Morningstars teeth flewe out of his jaw.
Poking Zachariah in the face "Who is this guy anyway?" Benzo asked.
Knowing he couldn't just say Witch Hunter to her he half lied again "Bounty hunter I don't know why he's-" "Save it lad, I know everything." Benzo said.
Zachariah wasn't sure if he should press the lie, accepting it when he hear the scraping of metal out of a scabard and suddenly Vander yelled falling back. Vander was clutching his forearm a long gash running up it as Morningstar painted produced a spike handle studded knife, it looked like a short cutless. One he'd been hiding inside his coat.
Panting Morningstar pulled out another knife "All this, for some brat."
"Well come on then." Vander said holding his fists up even as he bled, Morningstar went on the offense slashing and cutting at him, the thick mist coming off the dock waters made the two appear like two shadows fighting one another.
Vi and Zachariah watched "We have to help him." Zachariah said before Benzo grabbed him "We'll just get in the way."
Vander dodged the blades left and right as Morningstar tried to stick him with it, "Hold-still." Morningstar grunted before Vander socked him in the the face right in his nose "Ghhhaaa my nose." Correction his broken nose. Vander stood there starting to get winded, lowering his arms "Leave the undercity, leave Piltover never come back and I'll forget all about this." Vander said looking down at Morningstar, he reached for his knife but the look in Vanders eyes made him reconsider, when the Witch hunter bowed his head Vander turned to leave.
When his back was turned Morningstar grabbed his knife and lundged "DA!" Zachariah shouted but, the hound didn't even flinch he just steppd to the side spinning around to avoid the knife meant for his back and aimed his fist right below Morningstars face, towards his neck directly at his adams apple. Benzo and Zachariah heard a loud crunch, the punch was so hard the mist cleared and they saw Morningstar drop the knife. Stagger back grabbing atg his neck a large dent in his neck blood spurting from his mouth, gasping for air. Vander stood there unfazed before they watched Morningstar stumble to the edge of the dock and fall into the water.
"No." Zachariah ran out from behind the crate and Vander realized they were there, he caught Zachariah just in time before he could get past him, "No, no, you didn't have to- we can still-" Vander drew back his open hand and chopped him in the back of the head knocking him out.
Sighing with regret not proud of hitting Zachariah to stop him, Vander faced Benzo standing their by the crate "You get that sharpshooter?" Vander asked his longtime friend.
"More or less." Benzo said, holding up the gasmask.
Vander walked away from the water, Morningstars hat slowly starting to sink into the river along with all the rest of the past, "Well thats one catastrophe averted, how's the plan coming along?" Vander asked as Benzo picked up the staff, tearing off his sleeve to wrap it up, Vander pulled Zachariahs red dragon scale coat off and tucked it inside out so no one would see it.
Benzo knodded "It'll be ready by tomorrow, and hopefully we can put this mage business behind us, would help to toss this in the river too." Benzo said holding up the staff.
Vander thought on it, "I'll give it a think tonight, for now, I just want to get this one home." Vander said heading back to the Last Drop, Vander gave one last look across the river looking up at Piltover knowing things were going to get worse before they got better. But he wasn't the only one watching, meanwhile sitting on top of the Bridge of Progress sitting in the shadow of one of the towers cloaked in fur was the purple skinned rune mage, Ryze holding a crystal ball watching Vander carry Zachariah away. "Rest Zachariah Vanderson, I will find you soon." He said into the crystal ball, he put it away and looked down at the river seeing Morningstars body float up stream back to the other side of the river to Piltover.