Mikky’s Vault

In the flashback we see Mel in more colorful apparel. A Blue and cream colored dress with what looks like a sun burst in the middle of her chest (a possible nod to their Shuriman ancestry). A departure from how we see her normally dress in her current attire.

Outside of this moment none of Mel’s clothes are described to this detail, other than that they are luxurious and expertly tailored. We can assume her other dresses are as colorful if not more than the one pictured above (she’s rich nobility it’ll be lame if her wardrobe wasn’t). Katye is also described as wearing finely tailored Shuriman styled clothes/robes and seems to gravitate towards purples and greens. This is in somewhat contradiction to the Noxian color palette of ashen gray, black and red. Ambessa styles herself in this color palette, including the gown she wears to Darkwill’s ball. Kino’s clothes seem to be more neutral in color palette with yellow being an accent color. While Azizi’s clothes are never described we can assume that he also dresses finely (because he’s rich as hell). In the pictures we have of him he seems to primarily wear black and white with red as an accent color.

The reason I brought this up is because, what if after his death Mel’s wardrobe slowly dulled and took on the white and black color palette we know her for? In some African cultures it’s not uncommon to wear white for mourning, and black as well being used for funeral attire in many cultures. Mel felt more comfortable with her father, so I don’t think it would be unusual if Mel wanted to honor him after his death by donning his color palette. It would exemplify the loss of her childish innocence coupled with her growing jaded attitude towards her mother and Noxus as a whole.

It would also shows how little she moved on from it as well. Which is to be expected because, she almost died as well, and Ambessa didn’t really handle it properly. Azizi’s murder soon becomes the elephant in the room for the rest of the book that none of the characters, other than Kino routinely brought up, and he was quickly chastised by Ambessa. I don’t think Mel ever moved on from him, especially given the nature of it. It’s a nasty habit that she picked up from Ambessa, who learned it from Menelik. She doesn’t address the root issue and finds it more efficient to compartmentalize her trauma and continue to push forward. She knows what’s happened to her is bad but it hurts her more to “breathe life” into it by discussing it rather than just holding it in.

“What did she know of pain, though? Her cheeks flushed at the thought. She had been raised at the top of Noxian society, protected by her family name, her mother‘s reputation, and her father‘s money. Has she ever even scraped a knee? No wonder her mother thought her incapable. It was as if Ambessa Knew only pain. Ambessa was covered in scars, scars she had earned through trial after trial. A part of Mel wanted to understand. Another part of her simply couldn’t bear another person implying she was weak.” Page 63

This is pretty ironic to me. Mel knows pains. She knows the sting of rejection, the ache of loneliness, the burning sense of mockery, the feeling of betrayal and the pain of loss.

Mel’s scars don’t manifest physically, it’s more internal. She makes herself more pleasing and agreeable to those around her. She’s pretty blunt and honest about what she wants but she’ll hesitate to you why or how things make her feel. She, herself becomes a battlefield and each time she smiles a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes, every time she’s held her tongue or hold back tears burning her eyes, blurring her vision is scar on her as well.

I finished part two and here are some of my thoughts.

I was surprised at the Soraka cameo. Didn’t think she would show up.

We’ve met Ryze and he’s ok. I’m used to his older self so this will take some getting used to.

Ryze impulsiveness will be his ruin, and everyone else’s.

Helia sucks, as do most societies that present themselves as a utopia.

Kalista remarks how soulless it feels and I feel like that’s important. Usually the price of “utopias” like Helia is the stripping of individuality.

Vennix and Jenda’kaya are fun

I have just finished reading the first 100 pages of the book and here are some of my thoughts and feelings about the characters and some of the plot points so far.

Kalista is probably my favorite so far. I’m surprised this book seems more about her than Viego, whom I thought would be more prevalent.

I am enjoying the “love triangle” that we are getting from Ledros, Kalista and Hecarim.

I am team Ledros x Kalista as of right now

I am also in agreement with Kalista. I don’t distrust Hecarim but I also don’t trust him and I’m not really neutral on him either.

Speaking of Hecarim he is the most intriguing to me so far.

Kalista and Hecarim being engaged (it was arranged) is intriguing too. Especially because she made her peace with having no choice and assume she would be forced to marry some old fat guy (her words) for political gains. But was pleasantly surprised that Hecarim was an attractive man only a few years her senior. There’s still a political angle to their betrothal, but eh.

I also like the little world building of Kalista being in the moment with her hair as it just flows because when she marries she’ll have to start wearing her hair braided as many wives do. It’s supposed to symbolize the tying of her life to Hecarim’s.

I don’t know how I feel about Viego or Isolde. I thought Isolde would be more of a character so far.

Viego’s dad ain’t shit though. How are you gonna be an absent father then basically shit talk your last surviving son on your deathbed?

It’s taking me a minute to get into Thresh’s storyline.

I don’t know if it’s everywhere, but I know some people don’t like how Riot tried to portray Viego as abusive in his marriage to Isolde. Was it before or after this book came out? Because Isolde tells Kalista that Viego seems obsessive about her and how he flies into rages (it’s not directed at her but he’s so damn emotional that once everyone but Isolde leaves he doesn’t try to contain it anymore). Which tracks because Viego seems really impulsive and foolhardy.

His council aka Iron Order seems wary of Virgo and his temper. Multiple characters insinuate that Kalista should be on the throne. Something of which she quickly rebuffs, so I’m guessing either a jealousy or paranoia storyline between Kalista and Viego will happen.

I do think it’s interesting that the crown passed her to Viego though, she’s the oldest living heir. But her father died so it went to his younger brother, Viego.

I don’t know why Viego being Kalista’s uncle even though he’s younger and by her own accords she feels more like his older sister, is confusing to me but it is.

Azizi’s death was Mel’s point of no return. Does she continue down the path of nonviolence or will she let fear close her off? I often think of Ellie’s words to Joel in the Last of Us game. “After all we’ve been through. Everything that I’ve done. It can’t be for nothing.”-Ellie to Joel. Mel digs her heels in. It’s not explicitly stated but with the way her story has progressed, it feels like Mel needs his death to mean something. Along with all the other tragedies, she needs them to not be meaningless. That despite it all with her own solitude she can make new bonds, bridge gaps and be someone worthwhile to her family (Ambessa), to Noxus and Runterra as a whole. It all blows up in her face, almost spectacularly. It’s a lesson in rejection, woe and betrayal that only Azizi’s death could bring.

Azizi’s death is also seen as the catalyst with many of the other characters as well. Kino would more than likely still be alive, given he would not be as determined as he was to figure out the conspirators around his father’s death. Ta’Fik was always gonna die but Ambessa would not have blamed him for Azizi (she knew he wasn’t the direct cause of it but he’s guilty by association). Gintara and Tivadar would more than likely still be alive as well. Ambessa did not suspect the Black Rose yet when she confronted Gintara. Gintara would be more valuable as a hostage than dead. Mel definitely would not have gotten banished or at least not for as long as she did. I fully believed Azizi would have put the kibosh on all that.

It’s funny the exact moment Azizi dies, the rest of the book all the characters are in free fall to their most dire outcomes.