"Do any of you wanna talk about spirits? ...I'll assume that's a yes!"~ Aurora, The Witch Between Worlds
And so it begins.
The previous chapter is a slice of life one.... it is kind of needed. The story needs to slow a little before it starts to rush and characters ending up feeling really bland.
Leave a comment. A meme. Anything works really. And stones would be appreciated. And anything you would like to see with the Piltover and Zaun arc. I have already written up to the meeting between a couple Arcane characters and Gregori and gang but we can still add stuff.
Anyway, enjoy!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gregori walked toward the stairs and then around to the back.
A small drawer lay under the stairs.
He grabbed the drawer and moved it to the side, revealing a small door leading downward. Reaching out with his magic, he touched it. The runes on the door shone for a singular moment before opening.
Was there a need for this much secrecy?
In his own home?
Compared to what happened the last time, Gregori was not willing to take any chances.
The entire house, from the foundations to the outer walls, all of it, was fully engraved with runes.
Runes of every possible kind.
All of his experience with magic had come into play for this to happen. Every single bit. He had even relied on Caalyx for some of the more dangerous wards around his home. The ones on the outside.
His previous method of rune stones in trees was also implemented but with an extra bit of security. These were meant to last a lot longer than any other. They were almost semi permanent and made out of iron and carved with blood. All of them hidden within hard to reach places making sure that no one would ever come across them.... even accidentally.
As he stepped forth and into the secret passage, a dull glow erupted from runes etched along the side of the door as it accepted his presence. The torches that hung up on the wall suddenly lit up.
"Ohhh! Get ready for his arrival!" Caalyx's voice echoed through the tunnel, "Heeereee he comes!"
Gregori stopped once he heard the voice and let out a heavy sigh but then a chuckle escaped him.
"AND he's stopped.." Caalyx's energy began to fade. "OOOH! GREGORI! WHERE ART THOU?"
Gregori's eyes closed shut tight as he took in a deep breath and then continued.
The corridor then tapered out into a open room. One covered in runes preventing the leaking of Darkin magic.
The Darkin weapon were left uncovered in different locations. They hovered over the platforms they were placed on. The only one who was covered was Joraal. Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to gain any semblance of his sanity back. He constantly shook whenever anyone walked into the room, trying to get himself a host.
"You had something you wanted to tell me?" Gregori asked as he looked over the room and to Caalyx.
"Azir has let out a call." Caalyx said. "No commands but just an announcement of his presence across the planet."
"Did that not happen five years ago?" He asked, confused.
"No." Caalyx explained, "The last time was his magic announcing itself. It was reactionary rather than on purpose. Now it is on purpose. It means that he is ready."
"So you want to go to meet the Emperor?" He asked.
"No.... we have something else to do." Caalyx said. "Someone reacted. Their magic erupted in response."
Gregori's hands shook. "Darkin?"
"Yes." Caalyx replied.
He fell silent as the impact behind the words affected him. Then he frowned, "It is a little odd is it not?"
"What?" Caalyx asked.
Gregori looked at him and then at Naganeka and Horazi, " It has been exactly five years."
"Told you he would figure it out." Horazi spoke up from the side.
"Kind of obvious but the idiot wouldn't listen." Naga piped up.
Caalyx released a wave of energy that silenced them, his eye focusing on Gregori, "Yes. It has been five years. Give or take a couple days."
"When did the magic pass by?" He asked.
"A year and a half ago." Caalyx replied.
Gregori looked at him and frowned, "And you waited all this time to let me know?"
"Yes." Caalyx answered, "I'd promised you that I would let you spend five years happily with your children. Holding up my end of the deal is the least I can do for you."
"What if the other Darkin moved?" Gregori asked, anger slipping out.
Caalyx rose out of the platform and near him, "It doesn't matter if they moved. Your time with your children is something I will never take away from you.
"That is not your choice to make." Gregori did not hold back, "I do this to make sure they will be safe from the threat of the Darkin." He raised his hand in acceptance, "Initially it was for revenge. I had even managed to convince myself of that. But when my mortality came into question.... I understood it. My life does not matter. Theirs does. I am going to make sure they live a long and happy life even without me. This is crucial to that."
"It is my choice to make." Caalyx responded, "I was the one who brought you into the fold. Your relationship with the Darkin and everything related to it was all because of my interference. It is within my rights to make sure that your children have a father. Look at them. They have grown. Grown past their trauma. Grown past their anger and hate. They are just that now. Children. Look at the changes you have had on Briar alone. She is practically human now. Her suffering has practically been erased. And do you really need me to get to Rell? She is a grown woman now, one who understands how a true adult should behave and on who started to look at the world with wonder rather than suspicion. You have changed that. Not me. Not anyone. You."
"But-"
"There are no buts. Your five years are up and I require your service. Will you accept?" Caalyx asked. But there was a finality to his voice Gregori did not quite expect.
He nodded.
"Then lets begin our journey." Caalyx stated.
Gregori nodded as he grabbed the weapon, "Where to?"
"Piltover and Zaun." Caalyx replied. "More specifically the depths of Zaun."
"Someone is sealed there?" Gregori asked.
"No. Just for a fun family trip. " Caalyx replied, "Yes, there is a Darkin sealed there."
"Look at how he treats you." Horazi just couldn't help herself. "I'll be more supportive. Pick me up instead."
"You might." Caalyx replied instantly, "But he doesn't need support. He needs direction. His ego does not need stroking."
"He needs strength." Naga spoke up, "I can give you that." She spoke to Gregori, subtly using her magic to manipulate him.
Caalyx's eye spun around. "What strength? We beat you."
"A cow was my host." Naga shot back, "And you still struggled."
"He wasn't fit enough then. Now he is. Redo our fight and you wouldn't last a minute."
"ENOUGH!" Gregori roared. "We are going now. We will return with another Darkin and then we talk about our next step."
"No then we go visit the Emperor. All of us." Caalyx instructed.
"Our battle isn't over yet though." Horazi replied. "As beautiful as death sounds like... The Void is our real calling. We cannot look past it. Even Aatrox will move for that. Revenge means so much to him. All of us. Even her."
"Xolaani is the reason we are like this." Naga replied. "The corruption and the blood magic. Its unholy combination. It is her fault. Bring me her head and my allegiance is yours."
"Horazi said that already." Caalyx spoke, "Try something new."
"Shut the fuck up traitor." Naga shot back.
"Can the traitor really complain about betrayal?" Caalyx snickered. "What goes around comes around Naga. Hey! Did you know that Omah was buried under your temple? Along with Renekton and the slave traitor?"
"My temple?" She asked.
"Well it was more a tomb really but it had a lot of your snake symbolism there." He chuckled, "Now its probably a ruin."
"Get me a good host Gregori." Horazi asked of him, "Not an animal. A proper human with significant mental strength. Someone similar to you. Your children seem-"
"NO!" Gregori thundered, "My children will not involved in this Horazi. Speak of this once more and you will find yourself like Joraal."
"All wrapped up." Caalyx explained from the side, "I'd like to see that."
Every eye in the room turned to him. Even Joraal stopped shaking.
"What?" Caalyx would have shrugged if he had a body, "It seemed like a funny thing to say."
"Shut the fuck up Caalyx." Naga replied.
"For the very first time..... I agree with her." Gregori said as he began walking out of the room with Caalyx in hand.
His face hardened as he climbed the stairs.
It was time now.