The River King
-And you said we were going to...
-Demacia. -firmly answered LeBlanc, interrupting Yasuo's questions.- There's someone there I'm interested in.
-And the forest is the only way you know? -asked the former lone wonderer.
-The forest is not our way, that's just the closest path to the river. -said LeBlanc.
-Are we sailing? -asked Ezreal.- You still need to explain me what's your plan, lady.
-Why should I?
-I came because of a promise.
-And it shall be fulfilled.
-When?
-That's not a question I will answer anytime soon.
The group marched non-stop, the blonde girl leading them through the tress and moss. Doubt was being nourished by the Ziraeth's words, but fear was still stronger.
...
Gnar was jumping on Rengar's shoulders, sometimes falling onto the ferocious beast's head, ignoring who he had in front of him. Galio could not believe that the voice he was listening to was the one of the Ziraeth. He could not understand why he was there, in front of him.
-The migration Galio... -started Darkwill.
-That's none of my concern, Ziraeth.- answered the Gargoyle.
-I'm giving you a second chance because I'm trying to behave with who I once thought of as a friend.
-That was thousands of years ago, Darkwill. -answered Galio.- Demacia is my home, as it has been since most people in Valoran remember.
-But you know who you are. -answered Darkwill.- You know what you are, and you know that they don't like you.
-It's nothing but a cycle, Darkwill. You've seen it run through even more than myself.
-This time it will be different. -prompted Darkwill.- This is a whole new thing.
-That's what you always say. You said it ten thousand years ago and you'll say it back in a hundred thousand more. -Galio said while starting to take flight.- I'm not going with you, Ziraeth.
Darkwill was sorry. He did not look as if he was though; feelings are not supposed to be shown by gods. But he had to do it. Galio had to come, or his end would come here and now. That's why he gave him another chance.
With a heavy sound, Galio crashed onto the ground.
- Why?-asked Galio, now more seriously. Darkwill could feel the doubt and fear in his eyes; it had been way too long since he had seen the Sentinel's Sorrow that way.
- I already told you. It will be different now. Ages will come and go before we get back here. This kind of people don't deserve us.
-My answer is still the same, Darkwill. I'll see my old friends die as monsters if that's what I have to go through, but I won't leave this people behind.
-That's not how it works, Galio. -said Darkwill. His heart was breaking, but he couldn't show it to the outside world. Galio had been, together with LeBlanc, the darkins, the archmages and others of the gargoyle's kind, one of the few that had been around since the Ziraeth remembered his own existence.- This is not how this was supposed to end, Galio.
...
Rengar could not believe what he had seen.
The demacian gargoyle was nowhere to be found, and Gnar had suddenly transformed while on his shoulders and jumped towards Darkwill, who had completely ignored the huge beast that laid in front of him, aggresively roaring.
-He wants him back.- said the Ziraeth, talking to Rengar.- Looks like your friend really liked that old gargoyle, but he's smart enough to avoid a fight.
He knew he couldn't trust that being, but Rengar had no options left. After seeing what had happened to Galio, he knew that he did not want to share the same ending.
-You are a curious case, Rengar. -pointed out Darkwill.- Both Vladimir and Warwick were clearly magic users, but you... you are nothing but a beast.
-Keen eye.
-The point is that there is no place for you.
-This forest is my place.
-Not for long.
-Are you threatening me?
-Just look at what's going on, beast. -said Darkwill.- A half-dragon, a thousands of years old gargoyle and a handless yordle appear in your forest, and in less than a day this gun-wielding man and me come through. There's way more to come, and Tahm Kench is not the only one.
...
-Got what you needed, dear Ziraeth. -said Tahm Kench, the river king.
-Get it off me. -prompted Darkwill.- Do you see it Rengar? That is for you. -he turned towards Tahm Kench.- Give it to him and explain him the deal.
-Remember our business, Darkwill.-said Tahm Kench.- Vows are meant to be kept, and I shall keep both parts of mine if you dare not redeem this debt.
-Just do your job and I'll do mine.-said Darkwill, before disappearing, vanishing into thin air.
Ziraeths were always annoying. Greedy, gullible bastards that thought of themselves as gods when they were nothing but mere mortals. Tahm Kench would love to tell them the truth, but he would not dare. He had lived through way too many god wannabes.
Sometimes, silence was the funny way.
...
-Will this stop her? -asked Rengar.
-Yes, didn't you notice the fear in Darkwill's face? -said Tahm Kench.- This is why there are only two Ziraeths left.
-Why didn't you kill him then?
-Oh, that would ruin the game.-said Tahm Kench.- There's a word to keep, there's a job to do. And that's what we all live for, right?
-If that's what you mean...
-You'll keep your word and I'll keep his.
-Will Gnar be safe? -asked Rengar.
-The prehistoric being? I can't promise anything. -said the river king.- He's not part of any deal.
-He is now. -said Rengar.- Keep him safe.
Rengar took the obsidian shard and jumped into the river, just like Tahm Kench had told him to do.
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