#chaostaken

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. ❜