"Whatcha doin'?"
"AH! SHI—" Orion barely stopped himself from cursing and let out an annoyed sigh. "Hey, Akali… I was enjoying the scenery. What are you doing?"
Akali's face dropped down in front of him as she dangled upside down from the wooden beams of the temple overhang. He'd been quietly sitting, taking in the red blossoms and the clean, floral air, when she decided to make her entrance.
"I'm watching you," Akali replied with a frown. "You're a stranger. I don't like strangers."
Releasing a foot from the beam, she pushed off and flipped, landing a few feet away in the grass with a smirk that dared him to be impressed.
Orion, amused, decided to play along.
"Wow, impressive! How long did it take you to do that?"
"I don't know," Akali shrugged. "I've always been good at it."
"Really? Have you caught Kennen yet?"
"No. But I will soon!" she said, puffing her chest out proudly. "I almost caught him yester—no, three days ago! He turned into his lightning form to escape me!"
Orion chuckled and gestured toward a few neophytes training nearby with bamboo staffs.
"Have you caught any of those kids? Or beaten them in a match?"
They looked around Akali's age, some older and others closer to Faey's age, and several glanced over with thinly veiled disdain before resuming their drills.
"Not them," Akali admitted slowly, glancing toward the oldest group. "But the ones a year or two older? Yeah, I leave them in the dust! No one here is faster than me. Not even the oldest!"
Her gaze returned to Orion, eyes drifting over his bandaged body before settling into a wry expression. "I wanted to beat you too but it wouldn't be fair right now."
"Fair?" Orion repeated dryly, recalling Pantheon. "Thanks. I think I've forgotten what a fair fight looks like."
"Do you fight a lot?"
"Yep."
"I knew you were dangerous."
"…"
-----------------------
~That Night~
A boy stirred awake in the dead of night, rubbing his eyes before stepping outside into the cool breeze. The stars shimmered overhead, an Ionian night too peaceful to belong to a land at war.
"Sweetie…"
The boy froze, eyes widening as a familiar voice carried through the quiet night.
"Mom?"
Down the slope, a figure stood in the dark forest, arms open with longing. Long robes draped her body and pale fingers reached toward him.
"Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you," the voice whispered sweetly. "Why did you run away when the Noxians attacked? I told you to stay beside me."
"You told me to run," the boy choked, his eyes glassy as he stumbled forward. "I only did what you told me to! I'm sorry!"
"It's alright sweetie. Come here. Give your mother a hug."
He took another trembling step down the slope, tears blurring his vision.
"Mom…"
However a calm, even voice cut through the air.
"That is not your mother."
A bright arc of blue light sliced through the dark, striking the silhouette. The figure screamed and an unholy, gurgling sound echoed. The boy gasped and stumbled backwards in shock.
"M-Mom!" the boy cried as the creature's face twisted and the illusion broke and the boy's glassy eyes returning to normal.
"It is preying on your loss," Shen's voice said behind him. "If you had stepped into the woods, you would be dead."
Another slash of glowing blue light tore through the spirit's head. The wraith shrieked and dissolved into mist and the wails faded as it seeped into the soil.
Shen sheathed his sword. "Return to the temple."
The boy sniffed, trembling. "She told me to run. I didn't leave her."
"I believe you," Shen said softly. "Go."
As the child retreated up the path, Shen remained by the treeline. The mist sank deeper into the earth, retreating toward the distant mountains where an ominous red-and-black glow pulsed faintly against the horizon.
"Is it the same spirit from before?" came Mayyam's voice as she stepped out of the shadows, her tone edged with bitterness.
Shen nodded. "I believe so. It carries the same malignant energy. These spirits are connected like branches of a tree. A darker being now resides in the mountains."
"We should have killed the boy," Mayyam snapped. "He disturbed the balance and awakened these demons. His presence alone invites disaster! Better to end it now than risk something worse."
Shen turned from the trees to face her fully, his composure unwavering.
"That is not our way. Nor is it his fault."
"Has that ever stopped us from fulfilling our duty?" she countered coldly.
"You say this," Shen replied evenly, "but you also wish him to live because of his ability."
Mayyam's expression twitched. She placed her hands on her hips and looked away. "I would not jeopardize everything on a hope. My opinion remains. The boy should be dealt with."
"He has a path to right his wrongs," Shen said, folding his hands behind his back. "I will not condemn innocence because of a future that has not arrived."
When Mayyam opened her mouth to argue again, Shen's collected tone cut through her words.
"He will join me in subduing this creature. I believe his healing magic can cleanse the corrupted spirit. Once the spirit is dealt with and the land healed, we will decide his fate."
Mayyam's gaze flickered reluctantly before she responded tightly, "I will inform Kennen."
"No need," Shen replied, pointing toward a small bush nearby. "He already knows."
"Damn it! I've been spotted!" Kennen yelped, leaping out from cover and flipping midair before landing dramatically in front of them. "Your vision is crisp! Crisp as rice crackers!"
Both Shen and Mayyam exhaled wearily as Kennen grinned.
"I'm a ninja!"