Chapter Thirteen
Their journey seemed to go on for eternity, though it had only been the better part of a day. The darkness was only held back by the light of the Chosen. And under any other circumstances, there was a good chance they would have become lost.
Thankfully, Lyra proved once more to be a godsend. The Lunari, having known they might have to leave the mountain, had mapped out the tunnels thoroughly. As such, instead of becoming lost, they were able to rendezvous with the tribe with relative ease.
Hours later, they emerged from the tunnel into the desert, looking around their new surroundings.
"Sand," Leona noted unnecessarily. "Sand as far as the eye can see."
"And we're going to be walking through that for eight months," Diana added while the Lunari went over to a small group of Pha'Laita. She looked up. "At least we're being granted some mercy." And indeed, they were. The Moon was out instead of the sun, granting them illumination without the scorching hot daytime temperatures. Once more, the Gods were coming to the aid of their champions.
The Elder and several shadestalkers helped load several wagons full of supplies, covering them with heavy tarps. The wagons were soon attached to the Pha'Laita to be transported to their new destination. "Thankfully, we have more than enough supplies for the journey," the Elder stated. "We can stretch our food reserves out for most of that and supplement it with whatever we hunt or harvest along the way. Healing herbs and bandages… we will need to be extra careful not to get hurt or ill."
The Radiant Dawn nodded in understanding. "Agreed. Especially since we have the Void Creatures to worry about as well." That was their biggest concern, especially as they approached the settlements of Shurima. The number of those abominations had been increasing as of late, as have sightings of them. If they weren't vigilant, none of them would make it to their destination.
Iasm sighed. "Come on, everyone. The sooner we get away from the dangers here, the sooner we can deal with the dangers ahead." That reminded everyone of their current predicament, and they knew he was right. They weren't out of the woods yet. So, they quickly started moving.
About an hour later, Leona paused briefly to look at Mount Targon, sadness gripping her. She looked at the peak, taking in the beam of light that seemed to connect the mountain to the heavens above. Had it really been a mere month ago that she and Diana stood at the summit, becoming Avatars of the Light? It seemed so much longer than that. It almost felt like another lifetime.
How had everything gone so wrong in such a short period of time?
It didn't, she realized. It had been going wrong long before she was born. A thousand years of indoctrination that very few could challenge. Diana was the first person to actively challenge that indoctrination, which ultimately proved worthless.
Diana touched her shoulder, knowing what she was thinking. She had been thinking the same thing. Every single Solari was thinking the same thing. "We'll return one day, Leo," she whispered soothingly. "And we will bring the truth with us."
"… … You're right. We will return. Let's just hope that when we do, they'll be ready to hear it."
With that one statement, Leona the Radiant Dawn, and Diana the Moon Maiden, began their journey into the uncertain future. Neither knew what awaited them, but they would stand by each other's side.
And they wouldn't be alone.
LOL
Rhia stood at attention, her gaze on the funeral pyre before her. Rage and grief swelled in her soul, but her face remained stoic. She could release her fury later behind closed doors, but it would be improper now.
Elder Thalaia was performing the Last Rites for Elder Phenketon, but she was barely able to pay attention. Her mind was whirling in a neverending cycle of anger and disbelief. The High Elder was dead, bringing the total lost in the month to four. The Lunari had managed to escape. The Heretic and the Traitor had vanished, most likely leaving with their new allies. (To think she had once looked up to that girl. No longer.) It was indeed the darkest day in their history.
She refocused on the proceedings as two Burning Ones set the pyre ablaze, allowing the High Elder's spirit to join his ancestors on the true Mount Targon. His mission to preserve the Sun's might was now over. He would be remembered for that and all that he had accomplished in his long life.
It was now up to them to continue his work. All of Runeterra would know the glory of the Sun as it was meant to be. And she would do her part in that, but she had her own ambitions as well.
Revenge.
She dreamed of bringing the Heretic to heel, of ending all of the traitors who aided her. She would see them punished in the most brutal and twisted ways imaginable for their transgressions. And she would do it personally.
But now Thalaia was preparing to speak. Rhia once more focused on that.
"My fellow Solari," the Elder began, her voice booming across the yard, "we now face the greatest of challenges! We must elect a new High Elder, and then, we shall mobilize! We will send our warriors across the lands, spreading our gospel to all the people of Runeterra and showing them the blasphemy of their false faiths! We will find those who would defy the Sun's teachings and destroy them. The Nightless Eve will be halted forevermore! The Sun will stand for all eternity!"
"All glory to Her Light!" the assembled chanted, their voices echoing throughout the settlements. The Rakkor, hearing this, felt a collective chill crawl down their spines. Somehow, they knew that the world as they knew it was about to change forever.
And though they couldn't hear it, Rhia's voice was the loudest of them all, ushering in that new era.
LOL
From the top of Mount Targon, a group of golden creatures watched as the Lunari and their Solari comrades walked into the Shurima Desert, mere specks to them. But the light the two Chosen were exuding was unmistakable. It spoke of the possibility of change.
"The Golden One… she is the one who chose compassion," one of them said.
"Indeed, she spared me when she had no reason to." The second one smiled. "The Sun Goddess chose her Champion well."
"The Moon Goddess has done the same. And both have exceeded all of our hopes. We may stand a chance at reunifying the two faiths this time.
The third one turned, looking in the opposite direction. "Only if they can stop Him and purge the Mists from our world. Otherwise, any chance of reunification will fail."
No more was said. No more needed to be said.
LOL
Deep within the Shadow Isles, a land torn apart and left in mid destruction, a spectre felt a shift. Immedaitely realizing what had happened, his skull-like visage stretched as he 'grinned.' "Well, now," he whispered, "this is starting to become interesting. The new Sun and Moon have selected their new Champions. How… delightful."
His laugh echoed throughout the Isles. How delightful indeed.
LOL
Among the Heavens, a celestial watched, nodding in approval at what he was watching. 'Excellent,' he mused. 'A timeline where they stay together. This is perfect. Things are finally changing.'
Aurelion Sol pulled away from Runeterra after his observations, returning to deep space. He couldn't interfere with the planet's affairs, not while his avatar still had that damn slave crown on his head. And Pantheon would need to be dealt with before he could deal with those Aspects. But that was something to deal with down the line.
And then, the people of Runeterra would know his fury.
LOL
Epilogue
And so it came to pass that the future was changed. Whether for better or not was something everyone would have to wait to learn.
The Solari Elders ruthlessly suppressed the knowledge of the Sun and Moon's Chosen, with only a few Ra-Horak and Acolytes being aware. And with their belief that the Lunari had fled Mount Targon, they were confident that they were safe… for now.
Thalaia would take Rhia on as her apprentice, showing her off as the ideal of the Solari. Rhia would push herself past her limits in an effort to match Phenketon. Hatred would consume her, inevitably guiding the faith she professed was the light down the darkest path.
Elder Sek and Elder Phenos would dedicate the rest of their lives to prepare for the return of the Sun and Moon Chosen, informing specific members of the faith as to the Elder's deception. Though there was a good chance neither of them would live to see the day of a Targon united once more, they could at least plant the seeds among the truly faithful.
The other Lunari enclaves remained in hiding, though not ignorant of the changing of the world. They vowed that their Chosen would be vindicated one day when the truth was allowed to be spoken freely. They also promised to help any Solari dissidents prepare for the day when they could finally throw the yoke of the fanatics off at long last.
As for Leona and Diana… their group disappeared. There was no trace of them when the Solari began their march, but they did notice a rather large reduction of Void Creatures in several areas. Other than that, not a trace of where they went, or what even happened to them could be found. It was like they had never existed.
There was one thing that everyone in the know, knew was a fact. They were still alive, biding their time, growing stronger. And when they were finally ready, they would return. And, wherever they stood with their loyalty, they would be prepared when that day came.
But unbeknownst to all, darker clouds were beginning to form on the horizon. Evil was beginning to stir in the depths of Runeterra. Events were set in motion that could not be stopped. Events that, once completed, would change everything forever.
Once again, whether or not it would be for the better was up for debate.
LOL
And here it is, the last chapter and epilogue to my first League of Legends story. Sorry for how short it is, but I didn't want to try and lengthen it out artificially.
It will be some time before I return with the next story, though I am going to be writing it out. Leona, her family, and Diana will return. I can promise you that. For now, I'm focusing on my other two fanfictions, so updates there will probably be a little faster than before.
