Adventure Of A Lifetime

At the Institute

The Institute of War was a large, white building with a glowing diamond at the top. The vans stopped in front of the golden gate.

"This is as far as I go," Cole said, "You may roam around the Institute, mingle with the champions, and do as you wish. I shall pick you up tomorrow at nine to go to the Arena."

With all goodbyes said, the thirteen waited outside the gate. Just then a lady wearing white opened the gate to meet the thirteen.

"You must be the lucky ones," she said, "I am Vessaria Kolminye, Senior High Councilor of the Institute of War and Director of the Rift Games. Please come with me. "

The thirteen followed Kolminye across the lush gardens of the Institute and towards a whitewashed door. They stopped in front of this door as Madam Kolminye spoke, "This is where all the magic of the Rift Games happens. Welcome to the Institute of War!"

The senior high councilor opened the doors, revealing large arched marble hallways holding up lots of floors. Chandeliers hung high up, giving light to below. Summoners, nurses, and champions alike walked here and there, left and right, up and down, and in all directions. Some were looking at statistics of recent Rift Games and some were simply watching the popular game show 360 Degrees.

Kolminye and the thirteen stepped in the center of the atrium. Marie, Illoaide, Jascisce, Varblah, and Jack took pictures with their cellphones, while the rest gasped in awe.

"For years," Kolminye said, "the ancient nations of Noxus and Demacia were in constant argument and war with one another, as long as history has witnessed. Valoran had suffered two Rune Wars, and magic ran rampant. If the two nations kept on fighting, then this may escalate into another Rune War. This is what the Rift Games are for and why this Institute was created, we solve every political tension using controlled fights. Apparently, the people and our champions were eager to fight for the sake of fighting, and so every week or two we broadcast a fight, making to what you know now as the Rift Games."

Suddenly, a lady ninja wearing green rushed towards the group. "Yes, Mistress Kolminye, you called?" she said. "Akali! Just in time!" Madam Vessaria replied, "Do take over and show them around. I need to oversee a match in five minutes. Alright, Akali will be with you now. Have a nice stay!" The senior high councilor was enveloped in a beam of light, and then she disappeared.

"Hi guys!" Akali greeted, "I knew you'd come around." "Yeah, we did," Concorde replied. "Let me show you to the rooms you will be staying in for the duration of your trip," Akali said, "Follow me!"

The ninja ran to the left wing of the building, and the thirteen somehow lagged behind. Once they caught up to her, the fourteen of them walked together across the giant hallway filled with summoner dorms.

"This is the dormitory wing of the Institute of War," Akali said, "This is where all the summoners and the champions usually stay if ever major events in the League, aka the Rift Games, are happening or they are called to play a game."

Concorde and his friends saw a giant spider making webs above them to cross from one side to the other and then shapeshifting into a woman, two summoners blinking back and forth, a black haired lady squaring off against a brown haired lady in a fencing duel, and a small furry being in a scout's suit carrying three mushrooms in his hands. A brown skinned boy with a white Mohawk wearing street clothes and carrying a mechanism on his back raced past the fourteen, making the furry being lose his balance and drop all his mushrooms to the floor, smoke exploding from the mushrooms.

"Cover your noses!" Akali warned, and everyone followed, using web strips made by Paolo, Paulina, Marie, and Illoaide as masks. A nearby summoner noticed this and
spoke in a walkie talkie, "Fumigation in the hallway, Teemo has dropped his mushrooms again." The mohawk man laughed, and then he blinked to where he was moments ago.

"That was Ekko, the boy who shattered time," Akali said as the fourteen of them continued walking, "Most champions usually make a ruckus here either to entertain either the summoners or the visitors or to  show off and impress the ladies. Anyway, this wing is also home to the infirmary, so any sick people can come to either me, Soraka, Shen, or Kennen in case they need medical attention."

Quth'thkareph followed the group when she sensed something was not right. So did Kith'nxepris for he was having an assassin background. "Hold up," he said, "I sense something's not right. Quth'thkareph, when I say dodge, dodge."

He was right; from out of nowhere a curved dagger went straight for Quth'thkareph. Kith said, "Dodge!" and Quth'thkareph dodged immediately, replying "I can also sense that. I am an assassin too, you know?" Seeing the blade miss its target, a redhead in black uniform jumped from her hiding spot and landed on the ground.

"Katarina," Akali said.

"Akali," the redhead replied, "I see you're leading the visitors. No time for a Dance of Death?" At those words, everyone scrambled back to their rooms and shut the door. Only the redhead, the ninja, and the fourteen were left outside.

"Everyone, stay back!" Akali exclaimed, "It's going to get risky!" She readied her kama and stanced as everyone retreated towards the walls, all but Quth'thkareph.

"Rules are simple, " Katarina announced, "All assassins are automatically joining in this Dance of Death. Subdue your opponents and you win." "Fine by me," Akali replied. "So do I," Quth'thkareph added, taking two hidden daggers from within her shirt and holding them, and poising her tails to strike. "Who are you?" Katarina asked.  "I am Quth'thkareph, Queen of the Scorpion People and a formidable assassin." "We shall see," Katarina replied.

And the three assassins commenced, exchanging blows, thrown daggers and speedy movements. Akali used her kamas to deal blows on the hide of Quth'thkareph and the skin of Katarina, while Quth'thkareph used her tails as blades and whips, while Katarina used her daggers.

The fight was intense as the three made slashes to one another as well as kicks and punches. Katarina landed on Quth'thkareph's shoulders to restrain her movement, but her silver tail was able to threaten the redhead assassin, a clear bead of venom appearing on the end of the blade like stinger. Katarina jumped off her and made a slash to the side of her waist. Blood spilled out onto the golden shirt. Akali made a minor slash to the bulbous part of her sun stinger, leaving a wound at the area. Quth'thkareph responded immediately, and tripped the two over with her silver and orange tail (the shishkebab one), coiled them around the two champions, and poised her stingers to strike their necks.

"Looks like I win," Quth'thkareph said before feeling a pain from the wound on the side of her waist.

"Kith'nxepris, Targon, Myrrah, Katarina," Akali said, "we must rush her to the infirmary. That wound will only last her days. The rest of you, stay here."

The two Myrmidonians, the redhead assassin, the ninja, and the scorpion king all carried Quth'thkareph as they rushed to the infirmary which was fortunately right in front of them. They entered the doors and disappeared into the white rooms.

"I hope nothing grave has happened to Q-Tip," Paolo remarked, "and the infirmary can heal her in time." "We can hope for the best," Marie replied, "but now we have to stay here."

Five minutes later, Katarina and Akali were out of the infirmary doors. "What happened?" Jack asked. "Soraka said that Q-Tip will be fine," Katarina answered impassively, "As for those two, Kennen's still consulting them." "Oh great," Jack replied, "At least they're all safe."

"Anyway," Akali said, "let me lead you to your guest room."

She led them towards the infirmary and turned left towards a stairway. The eleven then went to the third floor, turned right, and finally stopped at the first double doors.

"This is the guest room where you will be staying," Akali said as she opened the door. The ten saw a large common room with a mini dining area in front and a receiving area at the back. Eight silver doors leading to eight bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, decorated the walls on the sides.

...

The ten put their suitcases and sat in the couches in the receiving area. "Madam Kolminye called me to do something," Akali said, "Enjoy this place." "Alright," Illoaide replied, "We'll call if we need anything." The ninja closed the door and went out of the room.

Jascisce looked out the window. It was a beautiful full moon outside, so she excused herself to go out for a stroll in the gardens outside.