Paradoxity
The book doesn't have complete answers, it happens in a study of something not completely understood. The three known Ruins of the book, they had faced great lost to become Ruins. It's more that they are driven to these deeds by very human emotions; a slave against his oppressors, a veteran scorned turns against his nation that forgets him, and a survivor that only wants peace and unity even if he must fabricate it forcefully. Shikamaru believes in the need for a regime change for personal reasons. And Cait only heard partial conversation, so she just assumed the worst in her young teenage mind.

Hi! So I was sick with the flu for a good while. Felt so tired and unmotivated.

Got this little thing made so it's short, I just didn't feel like going over it again to make it longer.

Thank you for reading, and enjoy! :D

XI

III. The Powers of Ruins: In Defiance of the Laws

The powers of the Ruins are among the most enigmatic and awe-inspiring phenomena known to scholars. These beings, transcending mortal limits, wield abilities that rival the might of the Ascendant of the Shuriman Empire and the Aspects of Targon. Yet, Ruins remain distinct in their singular connection to the Laws of Creation, with each one manifesting dominion over specific Laws while subverting or disrupting others.

This chapter delves into the observed powers of the known Ruins, examining their manifestations and consequences. By analyzing their abilities, we gain insight into the nature of their defiance and its profound impact on the natural order.

The First Ruin, an entity of raw, devastating power, was a master of destruction who manipulated the Law of Permanence and the Law of Resonance. His ability to channel and unleash pure energy transcended anything ever recorded, leaving an enduring mark on the world.

Historical accounts describe his power as a storm of light and heat capable of annihilating entire armies. The most infamous manifestation of this ability occurred when he obliterated the forces of the empire that had enslaved him, leaving only ash-covered armor and shattered weapons in his wake. Yet, the true scope of his defiance is seen not only in the destruction of men but in the reshaping of the land itself.

Modern scholars attribute the vast, lifeless Shuriman Desert to the First Ruin's defiance of the Law of Permanence. Under normal circumstances, arcane energies within the environment restore balance over time. Forests regrow, rivers carve new paths, and life reclaims even the most desolate regions. However, the First Ruin's unleashed energy altered the fabric of the world permanently. The eastern Shuriman Desert, once lush with forests and rivers, remains barren—a testament to the enduring effects of his power.

Additionally, his manipulation of the Law of Resonance created ripples that still echo today. The energy unleashed did not simply destroy; it reverberated through the natural and arcane threads connecting the world, severing and distorting them. The Shuriman people's fractured relationship with magic and the desert's inability to heal itself suggest that the consequences of his defiance persist across millennia.

The Second Ruin, by contrast, exemplified domination over the cycle of existence itself. His abilities disrupted the Law of Balance and subverted the Law of Cycles, allowing him to twist life and death to his will.

Although many details of his history remain shrouded in myth, surviving records suggest that his power enabled him to drain the vitality and magical essence of others, using it to empower himself. This unnatural hoarding of life force violated the natural flow of energy dictated by the Laws. By denying others their place in the cycle of birth, growth, decay, and renewal, he disrupted the delicate equilibrium that sustains creation.

His domination extended further. Oral traditions from pre-Noxian tribes recount how his power inspired a philosophy of might, influencing warlords to adopt his ruthless ideals. The Second Ruin's manipulation of the Law of Cycles ensured that strength and power flowed only in one direction—toward himself—subverting even the Law of Ascension, which demands that power distributed unevenly invites catastrophe.

The Second Ruin's reign, though ultimately lost to history, reshaped the cultural and political landscape of his time. Scholars suggest that his unchecked accumulation of power directly contributed to the instability that ignited the Rune Wars.

The Third Ruin, or the Final Ruin, stands apart from his predecessors in both intent and execution. While the First and Second Ruins sought destruction and domination, the Third Ruin's powers were directed toward creation, harmony, and renewal. He manipulated the Law of Cycles and the Law of Rebirth, though not without disrupting the Law of Balancein the process.

After the destruction of Helia, the Third Ruin fled to Ionia, where he used his abilities to bridge the divide between humans and Vastaya. By fostering coexistence between these historically opposed groups, he reshaped their natural cycle of conflict and harmony. His influence redirected what might have been a long trajectory of mutual hostility into an era of unity and understanding.

However, his actions were not without consequence. The artificial harmony he created required constant maintenance, suggesting that the balance he imposed was fragile and unsustainable without his presence. Upon his death, the principles he established began to unravel, eventually leading to the first major conflict between Ionia and Noxus.

The Third Ruin also exemplified the Law of Rebirth, as his efforts to rebuild after Helia's destruction emphasized renewal and creation. Yet, his disruption of the Law of Balance highlights the limitations of his power. By imposing an unnatural equilibrium, he created a system dependent on his intervention, ultimately proving that even the noblest intentions can lead to unintended consequences.

The powers of the Ruins are vast but not without limitations. Each Ruin's abilities seem tied to specific Laws, suggesting that their dominion is both immense and narrowly focused. They disrupt and manipulate the Laws they control but appear unable—or unwilling—to exercise equal influence over all Laws.

This limitation raises questions among scholars. Were the Ruins intentionally designed to be constrained in this way, serving some higher purpose? Or is their focus on certain Laws a matter of preference or necessity, like a swordsman favoring the blade over the bow?

If the Ruins could control all Laws, their potential for destruction or creation would be godlike, eclipsing the Ascended and Aspects even greater than they do now. The fact that they do not may be a mercy—or a warning of what could be unleashed if such beings ever arise.

Viktor laid his head back against the chair. He was done with this book. He didn't need the rest, most of which are looking at the consequences and various legacies brought by the Ruins. That wasn't important to him.

The Ruins are just that; ruinous powers that are awakened to the world to bring about a change. Their existences are shaped by the consequences of others around them. The first was a slave that had killed an entire army in his awakening, the second was a veteran ostracized by his nation for surviving war, and the third is the product of a fallen nation that to this day is only barely understood.

So if Naruto is one like Professor Heimerdinger suspects then that means that he is only evil because they made it possible. But if he is, why isn't Piltover and the undercity in chaos right now? Why didn't he act in his Laws nature?

There's the possibility he wasn't truly a Ruin and was just a gifted individual.

That's wishful thinking. Viktor knew better than to ignore the signs and possibilities.

He was curious, though, on what Naruto desired if he didn't want to conquer or change their nation. He was more curious about his own powers and limitations, an understandable desire considering how different he was. It was also expected considering he had no family anymore, his mother being the Red Witch killed on the bridge four years ago.

With no one to guide him or teach him, he only had his own means to figure his life out. Who he was, what he was, where he belonged; it was all in his hands to figure out. He was aggressive about it, especially when it came to figuring out his magic, but Viktor could appreciate that about the young adult.

With that in mind, Viktor got out of the chair and decided he will put the book back. He will then go talk to Jayce a bit more about their new invention before going to talk to Naruto. If he could find out what specifically the blonde wanted, then maybe he can be of more use.

"Alright, Jinx," Naruto got the girl's attention, noticing she was dozing off in the chair.

"Is it time to go?" She asked as she yawned and stretched in her chair.

Naruto grinned softly at her rubbing her eye and nodded his head. "Yes it's time to go," he picked her up and nodded his head at the two men. "I'll be in touch. Say bye, Jinx."

"Bye bye," she waved exhaustedly before dozing back off against the man's shoulder.

Naruto chuckled and left the shop, the two men doing the same after saying their farewells. He waited until he was out of sight and in an alley before teleporting to a location near the Last Drop.

"Alright, Jinx," Naruto made sure the girl was awake before setting her on the ground. "I'll be off now, but I will be in touch. One of my foxes will always be nearby so if you want me or need their help, just call out."

"Okay," she nodded her head and rubbed her eyes. "Goodnight, Naruto."

"Goodnight," he smiled and made sure she made it to the bar before leaving.

However, as he walked, he felt a shiver run down his spine. The hairs on the back of his neck raised on end and his blood turned cold.

"Another eludes his end."

"But he does not run!"

Naruto recognized the first voice, a soft and melodic tone that made him blissfully at ease. But the second voice was rough and aggressive, snarling at every syllable delivered. Knowing that the first is the Lamb from the explosion, he had a pretty good guess as to the second.

"I do not run from my end, but it is not my time," Naruto stated as he looked around for the Kindred. "Lamb, Wolf, it is surprising to see you so soon. Why are you here?"

"To see why one pierced by my arrow still lives."

"To know if I must hunt!"

He watched as the duo appeared from thin air, as if materializing from the Aether, which he doubted was far from the truth. They were, after all, the shepherds that sent mortals to the spirit realm. And he had come back despite them carrying out their job.

"I'm sorry if it seems like I am insulting you by still living, I fully thought I was going to stay dead as well," Naruto bowed his head to the honorable spirits. "However, it did appear to not be my time despite being ushered beyond."

Lamb tilted her head in curiosity while Wolf prowled around him. She was honestly not as surprised as one would think when they learn a soul returns from the dead. There are quite a few rarities and oddities that survive from the spirit realm, most from the chasm the mortals called the Shadow Isles.

But there was something about this mortal that had her curious ever since piercing him with her arrow a few days ago. There was a type of energy that she felt both cautious yet drawn to. It was reminiscent of the spirit realms nexus, where all souls eventually go to their final resting place, yet this was burning like a roaring campfire.

She wanted to know more, and that meant she needed to do something she had never done before; show herself to a mortal without the desire to kill them.

"I do believe your words, but it is still a curiosity that I wish to observe."

Naruto watched as she approached not like a predator but like a cautious observer, a scavenger watching for its turn to move in. Wolf, however, had no such intentions.

Sniff sniff

"You smell funny!"

Naruto shivered as he felt the hot breath of the Wolf on the back of his neck. "Zaun tends to smell, I'm surprised you smell me through this horrible air. Even Lady Janna struggles with getting rid of the stench."

"Are you afraid?"

Naruto shook his head. "Not at all. Should I be?"

"Yes!"

"No."

Naruto laughed at Lamb's teasing denial, getting a disheartening growl from Wolf.

"Lamb, he needs to fear death!"

"He doesn't, dear Wolf. That's why he took my arrow and not your teeth."

Naruto mused at the dynamic of the Kindred, Lamb and Wolf, and how much they were like siblings. Siblings that got along very well, but siblings nonetheless.

But he was curious about where this was leading. "So what will you plan to do now?"

Lamb perked up at his question and seemed to silently contemplate her answer. "We will watch you for the time being. We are curious but do not worry, we will not be in your noticeable vision to distract you from your activities."

"Unless it's your time to die again!"

Naruto nodded his head in understanding. "What are you hoping to learn about me?"

Lamb seemed to shrug before turning to leave. "I do not know, but I will know when I see it."

He did not like the vagueness her answer gave but nodded his head respectfully. "In that case, I wish you luck."

He watched as the two Kindred left him alone and he sighed in relief. He thought he was going to the spirit realm again so soon the moment they appeared. Good thing that's not the case, but he wondered if the true reason is really better.

The attention of the Kindred? Ignoring the implications it meant to have the curiosity of death spirits, he had the attention of the peaceful death. A curious thing that he mused to himself over, replaying the conversation over in his mind, before leaving the streets of Zaun.