The roar of the demonic spirit pierced through my ear. Its head lay too close to my shoulder & I stumbled as the sound flatlined. My back made contact with the trunk of a tree that held me erect.

Ghastly giant hands reached out to me, attempting to hold onto & crush the life out of the man who was going to put it to rest. With one swipe of my hand, my saber meets its long noir talons ; stopping them in their tracks. My free hand covers up my ringing ear as it produces another loud sound to disarm me. I call upon the spirit blade & it lodges itself into its back.

I could see the Ionian forest through its translucent body. It existed as a faint silhouette before the energy of my blade sapped it into a smoke of nothingness.

I joined my hands, bowing my head. A short prayer for the departed. I believe that all souls deserve to be put to rest, & if my chants grant them that satisfaction, so be it. 

Regardless of the demons current state, my long sword remained unsheathed, gently floating above the lush grass that I stood upon like it was weightless.

My eyes darted around for any remnants, for I could still feel a lingering presence - not that of an animal, but of a human.

I feel the very existence of nature twist by forces & watch upon the horror that Syndra causes. Amrita winces, the ache deep in her bones, down to her soul, snatching her of her vitae, but continues to spew words of hatred, only but a rouse to distract the mage as I step in, wielding my sword to the side, disabling her grasp on her victim.

Blade cutting through orbs with ease that trifle away. I continue to keep her occupied, the spirit blade aiding me, enveloping me in a protective shield that keeps me from being weighed down ; & in the chaos that ensues, Jaya dashes towards her, only to be flung across by a sphere that phases through her. Scream echos & the handle of my blade meets with the back of her head.

The sovereign falls onto the ground as the twigs and dried leaves cackle under her pressure. Towering her, I observe the delicate features that adorn her face - looks can be deceiving, & my mind wanders - what if I struck my blade within her chest, end the threat right here, but words of Karma continue to linger in my heart, whispering softly, ❝ If the First Land wanted her dead, then why did it sustain her? ❞

It was a simple question with a difficult answer. I had pondered upon it on our journey back to the monastery. Upon our return, my disciples were dismissed from their duty and consequently provided with medical attention. I remained relatively unharmed, for had it not been the spirit blade, I would have succumbed as the master who had tried to contain Syndra.

I promptly sent news to the elders of her capture & the state in which she was being held captive - bound by magic nullifying prisons made from petricite.

It would be the first time that I would be visiting her, to speak, civilly.·

The Enlightened One had visited me herself. A look of concern painted her beautiful face. It was a seldom occurrence, & so I had known that the reason she had approached me was of great importance.

We had walked through the grounds of my monastery whilst talking about what was bothering her - it couldn’t have been the Noxians, for the war was over & throughout, Karma had remained calm and assured of our victory. She claimed the secret behind her confidence was the belief that in times of trouble - even the ones who stood divided within Ionia itself would stand together to fight for the First Lands. I must commend her ability to continue to see the best in people ; where as I, I no longer felt a sense of hatred for my own kin - Zed. I had grown to accept him and the choices he had made, but I can no longer put my trust in him.

The fields lay in disarray, & she had not commented on it. Pausing in her path, she had turned towards me, the shade of the elder pinus armandii tree & luminescent rays of the Sun producing a contrast of light upon us, ❝ Syndra has awakened. ❞

Her small gentle hands reached out to hold mine, & I place my other hand on top of her’s. ❝ Shen, you must contain her. Ionia’s fate lies in your hands. ❞

Words briefly dulled out underneath the shrill chirping of the birds - I had been given the responsibility to restrain the mage that a great master of Kinkou Order died doing.

I nodded, regardless of the sliver of doubt of my own capability that plagued my mind. Karma smiles, & for that moment, the worry of mine eases.

The memory replays like a broken record, & I meditate in my room to allow for the thought to float away - to not leach onto the space in my head. Soon after, Kennen enters, & we discuss of my plans to seize Syndra. He had suggested to send out disciples to observe her activity at Fae’lor, for we could not invade the fortress that floated amidst the sky. 

The next morning, my two students - Amrita and Jaya prepare for our departure. We leave before dawn breaks, making our way to Navori, where we briefly rest & take a boat to Fae’lor. It proving harder than what I had imagine - Syndra’s wave of terror reaches beyond the shores of the island.

Docking at bank, I am quick to notice that Fae’lor appears to have been struck by some sort of plague draining the very essence of life. Even the flora seems to be in anguish & there is no sign of any life minus the ones that soar near the heavens. 

I sense the apprehension of my neophytes, reassuring them of protection. 

I signal them, choosing to not communicate verbally but instead with gestures. 

❛ Follow me. No longer than a distance of 250m. ❜