A Dance for My Enemies

At the heart of Ionia

And so I was walking. Again. My legs weren't fully recovered yet but I felt a jolt of energy surge in my body.

I couldn't sit and wait either.

It seems Akali was hooked when I said Noxians. She said she would come along. Wouldn't pass up a free invitation to a fight.

The Placidium was a sacred place here. Ionia as a whole is already sacred enough.

No place is like this island. I honestly wouldn't believe in the Spirit of Ionia.

But it's difficult to ignore such a force when the whole continent is the force in question.

Ionia lives and breathes. The natural life here is likely the only reason Noxus is struggling to invade.

Pissing off the spirit is like stepping into a monsters maw fully aware of the beast.

Nevertheless, the Placidium is pretty much the center of Ionia. It's located in the most inconvenient location. And it is likely where the spirit has the strongest bond between Ionians.

It's why Ionians strongest mages reside there. These mages are who interest me. This Karma who I've heard of.

"Hey! Stop spacing out or you'll walk off the road." Akali calls out.

She was already several steps ahead of me.

She has good stamina. I gained my endurance by constantly running away from dangers. And then running even more.

Walking behind her, I notice tattoos on her back and lined down her shoulders to her arms.

A dragon is the main decor on her body, clouds accompany it making it look more dramatic.

"Pretty cool, right?" She glides her fingers across the ink.

"Got them some time ago. It really was to make me feel older. I felt like have something to myself." She elaborates.

"Why a dragon in particular?" I ask.

"Because dragons are badass. Why wouldn't someone want one engraved to their back?"

I chuckle and walk faster. Keeping the same pace as her.

By the end of the day we were both hungry again. It was also too dark to stay out on the road.

Setting up a camp was our safest bet.

The fire wasn't igniting and it was getting cold. I had pants on and a rag shirt they provided at the camp. While Akali was wearing the least insulated clothes you cold find.

"Fuck!" I toss the wood to the side.

"That'll teach that wood. It'll never mess with you again." Giggling at my frustration.

"How about I get the fire going. Though it was entertaining to see you struggle for too long." She configures the wood into one spot.

Pulling out a yellow talisman of some sort. She says a saying in a foreign language. The little paper bursts into a flame.

Quickly starting a fire from there ai stare in awe.

"I didn't know you used magic."

"Well I don't really. I was trained to use more physical methods. But a little magic can go a long way. That and Ionia is a great place to do it." She explains.

The rest of the night was us snacking on some local wildlife and conversing about random topics.

We fell asleep quickly and we're ready to head out by early morning.

Well rested, we knew it was still a little bit to the placidium. The walk would be long. Or so we thought.

Along the way we found a caravan going to the a Naboru town. It wasn't our destination but we shared a similar path for now.

They let us sit in the back as they kept moving on. The locals were every friendly to other Ionians or really anyone who wasn't a Noxian. They are considered beneath humans here. Killing a Noxian has the same consequence as throwing out trash. None.

The trip became so much faster after that. The horses were working hard to get to their destination.

"So what made you want to join the resistance?" Akali turns to me.

"Well, it was a decision without much thinking involved. They took my freedom from me. I want to show them it can't be done without a eye for an eye." I respond.

"But what about the Innocents. Don't you feel that somebody needs to do something. Stand up for them and protect them?" She looks at me. As if trying to convince me to think her way.

"What about them? We all live and breathe in the same space. It's a shame but you can't save them all. It's not worth sticking your head out for someone else's cause. Because you'll lose more and they'll just gain more time to live their same lives." I respond bitterly.

I always hated my negative thoughts on philosophy. But it was who I was. How I was raised.

"If what you're saying is true, then why join a cause? You said revenge is your motive. Why not do it yourself?" She tries to pry.

"Look at what happens when you found me. That's what happens when I try this thing alone. It's not always about skill. Sometimes, when you enter the ring with a bigger opponent. It's just simply impossible to come out victorious."

Honestly her questions about my motives tick me off. Like why do you care what I think. I just want to live my life and do it the way I want it.

The wagon stops.

"Hey you two in the back! This is about as close as we will get to the placidium. Hop off now, we need to keep going. And good luck." The man shouts.

We step off onto the center of the town. People walking around everywhere and noise filling the air.

"Come, let's get there before night shrouds the way." Akali taps my shoulder.

And so. We walk again.

We walk far enough that we can make out a strange building in the distance. A monumental design. The buildings grown out by none other than the Spirit of Ionia. The whole Placidium was designed by Ionia itself.

It was my first time seeing it.

But for now, I needed to find a comfortable bed. The ground was killing my back for the past few days.

And I also heard stories of absolutely delicious cuisine coming from here. My mouth begins to salivate.

My soul jumps out when a group of people drop from the trees onto us. Holding the both of us down.