The Fall: 25. The Conflagration

The Conflagration

LeBlanc's mimicked version was still with the Ionian outcast and Ezreal, but she had separated from them hours ago.

-Why now? -asked the Ziraeth.

-We just follow the call. -answered Hecarim.- When we're given orders we follow them. When there's war, there's death, and with death the Shadow Isles grow.

-What war? -asked LeBlanc, more curious after every word the Shadow of War pronounced.

-That's none of my concern. -pointed out Hecarim while still rampaging through what was left of the poor side of Bilgewater.- If we're called to war, we go. It's our fate, our duty.

Suddenly, a greenish light hit Hecarim, and his eyes glowed familiarly.

-It's all about Thresh, right? -spitted LeBlanc.

-It's something bigger than you, Ziraeth. -answered a voice through the monster's mouth.- Some things are better kept away from those close to us. At least that's what he said.

-Shut up and answer my question! -shouted LeBlanc.

But there was no answer; Rampaging through what was left, Hecarim had abandoned the place, accompanied by an army of undead spirits that would make sure nothing could stop him. She could still hear Thresh's laugh at the cells he had been confined.

Maybe he had had a reason for trying to kill her. Ans maybe he still had it.

...

Hours had passed since Malcolm had realized that he was alive when he shouldn't and Swain had told him that Aalcox was awaken. It didn't take him long to realize that Aalcox was nervously screaming as he had never heard a Darkin do, and it was taking way longer to shut him up.

-What's wrong with you?! -shouted Malcolm.

-Find the girl and wipe away the risks! -screamed Aalcox in Malcolm's mind.

-Which girl? -whispered Malcolm while struggling to keep his composure.

-KILL THE KING'S SISTER! -screamed Aalcox; now even Swain heard it.

-Which king? -asked Swain with a peremptory voice.

His voice was enough to calm Aalcox down.

-The Demacian king. His sister...

-She died years ago. -pointed out Swain.

-Not really... -said Malcolm with a smile on his face.- She's not dead  at all...

...

-You don't look like a worthy recipient.

-Who are you?! -shouted Astor. He didn't know where the voice came from; he was lying on the ground, covered by plants. Those yellow little beings were still hanging around him, now moving nervously in circles.

-That's none of your concern now. -answered the voice.- Just do as I tell you and I will give you a less painful death than I want to right now.

It had been long since Astor had left words like those unanswered, but that was the first time that he didn't know who he was talking to. For the Void's sake! He didn't even know WHAT he was talking to.

-Just bring me where I want to go. -said the voice, now calmer.- Then I'll make you free of the agony of living.

And it would still be long before he ever let anyone fool him.

-I think you don't realize who you're talking to. -confidently said Astor, before agonizingly screaming and bending in pain.

He was going through such an agony that he didn't even realize that the little yellow fellows were gone. But they weren't leaving for long...

...

-They escaped. -answered Garen from the throne that had once been of his old friend and king Jarvan Lightshield the fourth of his name.

-I guess they are being hunted down like the filthy scum they are... -answered Darius.

-They got into the forest. -replied Garen.

-Oh, and I guess that your scouts can't follow a track when it takes a little effort, right?

-You're not understanding a single word of mine. -said Garen while taking a map that was hanging on the wall and throwing it on the floor in front of Darius.- They got into the Forest.-said Garen again.

-I'll bring you enough men to cut that forest down tree by tree. -said the hand of Noxus.- and then we will raze Bandle City to the ashes.

...

The small yordle-like creature transformed in the blink of an eye; a huge bloodthristy beast was now between them and a voidborn abomination that had suddenly appeared. And some seconds later, another monster was jumping from a bush nearby; the ferocious feline-like beast was on the voidborn beast in a second. Shyvana could see how they fought each other with an innate hate that scared the soul out of her.

-You're leaving. -said Galio, turning towards the 3 huge beasts that were fighting besides them.

-And you're coming with us! -screamed Shyvana.- We won't leave you behind!

-FLY, YOU FOOLS! - roared the white feline beast while holding the Voidborn on the floor.- NOW, OR I SWEAR I'LL CUT YOU DOWN TO PIECES AFTER FINISHING HIM!

-Leave.- said again Galio while walking towards the battle.- I'll catch up to you.

-But...

-Do it. -ordered Galio.- Reach Bandle City, tell them what's about to come and live. I'll catch up to you.

Without looking back, Shyvana carried Poppy, Taric and Sona on her back and left the place. A blazing path showed him where they were going, but Gnar, Rengar and Kha'Zix were way more important now than a path to follor.

...

-Care with Gnar.-shouted Rengar.

It took long for Galio to realize that the beast was talking to him. Shortly after, the so-called Gnar jumped on him.

-Do not hurt him! -roared the white fiery beast.- He'll calm down in a while! Just leave!

-I'll help you.

-YOU WON'T! -said Rengar throwing a bola to Galio's feet.

Only then the hunter realized his mistake. A gust hit both Kha'Zix and him, who ended one on each other's side laying in the floor. Suddenly, Galio shot a blast and both monsters laid on the ground crippled.

-How'd you dare... -angrily whispered Rengar before disappearing.

Without hesitation, Galio started to shine as he had done only in the most dangerous of times. Gnar, now small again, was throwing rocks at him. The voidborn creature woke up and slowly walked towards him, trying to hurt him in a desperate try of getting something out of the fight.

And then he heard his voice.

The Fall: 8. The Cleanse Begins

The Cleanse Begins

-You will start to work after the arrest squad fails. -pointed out Garen.- Your job will be to hunt down and bring back to Demacia those people that haven proven themselves to have parted ways with their humanity in favour of power. Dead or alive, I'll have enough with their heads.

-Why should the arrest squad fail? -arrogantly asked Lucian.

-You have worked with the likes of them, Lucian.-answered Garen, clearly annoyed by the Purifier's behaviour. -The Gem Knight, the Sentinel's sorrow, the Half-Dragon... they should not be underestimated. The rebellion we're facing is serious business. This is not like hunting for silly monsters about Runeterra with your chick; remember that your...

Lucian turned and walked out of the room, closing the door silently, leaving Garen mid-talk. The new king's anger could be felt in the room, but he didn't stop.

-...enemies know you as much as you know them. -he stopped and breath deeply while turning for facing Quinn. -You'll lead the team. Those monsters won't doubt to chop your head off, don't give them the chance to. You may leave now.

...

Quinn couldn't understand what was going on. King Jarvan had died, adn the noxians had been blamed for it at the very beginning. Garen was already preparing an army to march against their eternal nemesis, but something tore those plans down to pieces; a Noxian letter had arrived. It talked about traitors in their own ranks and about Swain escaping with the one in charge of single-handedly causing the death of hundreds of Noxians. As a side note it talked about Xin Zhao, the Seneschal, being kidnapped by the Chain Warden. No more details concerning the letter were made public; the only thing that the Demacian common folk knew was that Noxus was not an enemy anymore.

Officially, the army was going to march against the Shadows Isles in the search of Xin Zhao, while other scout squads were being prepared to look for Xin Zhao around Runeterra; as said by Garen, "they could not be sure what a twisted mind like Thresh's could beplanning". Only a few knew the truth; their new king was lying to the masses.

As far as most people were concerned, they had to find Xin Zhao to uncover the truth of what had happened to Jarvan IV; the truth was that the Noxian-Demacian alliance wanted to change the world how the had once known it by cleaning the human race. Yordles, dragons, mages... if something made it different from the standars they had settled, it had to be erased.

Who were the monsters now?

...

The drink was way too cold that night. Even for a heart as frozen as his, the drink was way too cold. He looked at the bartender, who immediately took his jar and emptied it, pouring its content into the sink and diving deep into the kitchen.

That was why Yasuo had always preferred that place among the rest. He needn't talk, he need't listen to anything, he didn't even think. If he wanted something to drink he payed, and when he couldn't pay the bartender never complained; he knew that the man he knew as Yone would pay his debts. Yone had always payed his debts, even though he had never given in to drink.

He had never liked to use the name of his dead brother, but when he had to come up with a name that was not his, Yone always came to mind. Ten years had passed, yet ten more wouldn't have been enough for Yasuo to get free of his burden. Unable to prove his innocence, old friends were still hunting him down day and night. Bilgewater had been his personal heaven; you can't draw attention when you're surrounded by freaks even stranger than you. That had given him the chance to be reborn as Yone, the Ionian fisherman. The only one that got to fish now matter how strong the winds were those days, a hero among the common folk. Yone was the one that saved the hungry and the poor. The silent man that had saved countless lives.

Without a word, Yasuo left the bar and walked towards the docks, where home was waiting for him. He was covering himself with the blankets and coats that children from the neighborhood had gifted him when he heard a familiar voice whispering in his ear.

-It's been long since we last met, brother... -said Yasuo, before swiftly unsheathing his blade and cutting twice through the shadow's throat. -And I do not plan on sharing a drink with you soon.

The Black Mist was back. Year after year, always arriving some weeks earlier than it did the last year. Always colder, always stronger. But it is not yet time to die. At least not for the unforgiven.

The Fall: 1. And All Things Will End

And All Things Will End

The king entered the throne room alone. No one knew how he had done to go unnoticed through the castle, but there he was, with his golden crown and armor soaked in blood and a dead smile shining bright under his eyes. "This is not my king." thought Garen. A long silence filled the room, and not a soul dared breathe during those seconds that felt like years.

-Xin Zhao is not coming back soon.- selflessly announced Jarvan IV, king of Demacia, last and only living member of the royal line.- No warrior of my escort will be back, as far as I know.

His voice sounded like that of a dead man; not the ones who are already under the grave, but those who while living have no motivation to do so. Jarvan had changed a lot since his battle face to face with Swain years ago; a special squad, filled with the best soldiers of Demacia and led by Garen saved him from a certain death at the hands of Urgot after he fell into the raven's claws. The man that came back from that journey was not the same that had left. But now it was different.

His were not the moves of a man. A dusty mean look that seemed to ignore everything in front of it crossed the hall. "Is it grief?" doubted his lady wife. While the king stumbled through the room on his way to the throne, the crowd kept off his way; not because of respect but fear instead. Jarvan dropped himself on the throne and closed his eyes. This was not the man their friends and sons had died for. This was not even a man.

-Everyone leave the room now. - announced the king after another long and awkward silence. Seeing that people hesitated to follow his order, he talked again. -Your king commands it. I want you all to leave.

One by one, everyone left the room through the main gate. While walking away, Garen noticed a little bit of humanity in Jarvan's eyes. His old friend, now a king. "One ashamed of what he's going to do." heard the old might of Demacia into his head. Unable to turn back and face his former prince, Garen walked away, vanishing within the crowd. Not even the queen stood there; the king told her to leave and stay in her chambers until she had news from him.

Once they were all out, they heard the locks. The last member of the royal family had closed himself alone in the throne room. Again.

...

-They will notice. -said Darkwill.

-Of course they will. That is intended. -answered the shadow with a voice that lost itself into silence. -Didn't you want it to go this way?

-It's too soon.

-You released the prince. Deal with the consequences. -spoke the voice.

-The sorcery didn't go the way you told me, LeBlanc. -shouted Darkwill, alone in the shadows of the Noxian catacombs.

-Don't you remember how Sion worked out? What did you expect Elliot? -talked LeBlanc in a mocking way.

-Elliot died with Senna, Leblanc. Fix this now, I wouldn't like to make you pay for your lies. And don't dare call me that name again.

But there was no one around to listen to those words. "Why had she talked about that?" thought Darkwill to himself. It had been more than decades since anyone called him Elliot. And that person was already dead. As the only remaining male of his species, falling in love with Senna had condemned his existence. The end of our times. For centuries I laughed at LeBlanc, mocking her about how after one of those magic tricks she would end up falling in love with a human. But the first to link the existence of his body to another one was him. Darkwill and Elliot became one, and it all happenned because of Senna. "But ours was an impossible relationship." he recalled.

Elliot was a Noxian spy at that time, a man of the shadows, slave to politics. In contrast, Senna was a mercyless Demacian warrior that brought down every single remain of the Shadow Isles that reached Runeterra; she was a roaming soul that needed no guidance. No matter what was the shadows' victim's banner, she and Lucian would always be there to help. "Noxian or not, you're a good person. If you need help, I'll be there." had been the words that trapped him into that fragile human body.

But then came the marriage; even though he had not been invited, he was present during the cerimony. Lucian and Senna were tied together now, both as warriors and souls. Elliot's soul was left to rot, and what was left of Darkwill took control of him.

He would have loved to be able to completely forget Elliot's existence, but his feelings and memories grew stronger with time. Specially since Senna's death. And now he didn't know if he was one or the other.

A sighing took him out of his thoughts; then he remembered what he and LeBlanc had done with the Demacian king's escort. Fourteen days had passed since they were captured, fourteen of them had been gloriously executed.

-You will be part of the show tomorrow, Xin Zhao. -talked Darkwill to what looked like an empty cell. -Enjoy your last hours of life.

The starving man was unable to answer. He had no will to move. Darkness had choked what was left of the warrior inside him. His pride, his life, his king. They were all lost. They had all succumbed to the will of the dark.