The Highland Valley lies at the northern end of the Giant's Peak mountain range. Thanks to its geography, the climate here is well-suited for cultivating crops, making it one of the most ideal places for the Rakkor people to live—if you disregard the threat of marauding barbarian hordes.
Iula's farm was far from the main Rakkor settlements. To reach the local market, she had to leave the dense wheat fields, cross a valley that stretched nearly to the horizon, and then travel for a long time. Even in her youth, when she was strong and fit, Iula had to rise before dawn to make the journey, only returning around sunset.
Iula's farmhouse wasn't particularly large. It had once belonged to Pallas, and it was where the two of them had been married. After Pantheon took possession of Atreus's body, the priests of the Solari honored Pallas's deeds by granting his estate to Iula. Since then, she had never left the Highland Valley or ventured far from home.
The firewood in the hearth crackled cheerfully. Atreus placed some well-worn wooden cups on the table as Iula retrieved a dusty bottle of mead from a shadowy corner of her pantry.
"This is an old batch I made long ago," she said, prying the cork from the bottle. "Honey, barley, starwort, sunflowers, and some herbs—it's been aging for years." Without hesitation, she poured half a cup for both Li Lin and Atreus. When she looked at Zoe, however, she hesitated.
"I don't want sun tea—I'm sick of it! I want mead too!" Zoe declared. "I've wanted to try it for over a thousand years."
Hearing her mention her age, Iula nearly dropped the bottle, and Atreus's face mirrored her shock. After all, it had only been a little over thirty years since Pantheon had taken Atreus's body, yet Zoe claimed she had desired mead for more than a millennium.
"Are you sure you want to drink?" Li Lin asked, giving her a stern look. "Do you remember what happened last time you begged for a drink in Piltover? You cried and complained the moment you tasted it."
Zoe's excitement faltered as she recalled the bitter, throat-burning sensation of alcohol. Embarrassed, she averted her gaze from the mead and stammered, "M-maybe I'll stick with sun tea after all…"
Iula chuckled, poured herself half a cup of mead, and carefully replaced the cork. Then she donned thick gloves, took the red-hot kettle from the hearth, and poured Zoe a cup of tea before setting the kettle in the center of the table.
"You're in for a treat," Iula said. "I spent the whole day roasting tea leaves, and the flavor is fantastic."
Zoe eagerly grabbed the cup and drank without hesitation, not minding the heat. Relishing the familiar taste, she licked her lips and immediately reached for the still-warm kettle.
"Careful, it's hot!" Iula warned, but Zoe paid no heed. She grabbed the handle and poured herself another cup with hands that remained unscathed.
"She has the power of the Aspect of Twilight," Atreus remarked.
"Thanks for the obvious," Iula retorted, shooting him a glare. Then she downed her mead in one go, pushed herself up from the table, and said to Li Lin, "I'll check if the bread and vegetable stew are ready." With a slight limp, she left the room and disappeared down the corridor leading to the kitchen.
Atreus watched her retreating figure until she vanished, then shook his head with a sigh. "Iula… her temper is still the same, though it's mellowed somewhat with age."
"People change," Li Lin said with a faint smile, meeting Atreus's gaze. "It's been decades, after all. Did you have a good conversation today?"
Atreus fell silent for a moment before replying, "She was shocked when I returned. She cried and hugged me, insisting I come inside to rest. We talked a lot, but then I saw Pallas's sword and asked how it had made its way back from the peak of Mount Targon…"
He trailed off and rubbed his temples in frustration. "Well, you saw what happened after that. She ordered me to chop all the firewood in the yard and then went into the kitchen to prepare dinner."
Li Lin sighed, rubbing his forehead. It seemed Atreus was hopelessly clueless when it came to choosing the right words for the moment.
Meanwhile, Zoe sipped her tea leisurely, now accompanied by some pastries she had acquired from a portal. Payment was handled by the AI, sparing her any trouble. The room settled into a brief silence, broken only by the crackling fire.
A short while later, Iula's voice called out from the kitchen, announcing that dinner was ready and summoning Atreus to help set the table. Li Lin rose to follow him.
As they walked down the corridor toward the kitchen, Li Lin asked, "Are you ready to begin your training?"
"Are we starting tonight?" Pantheon raised an eyebrow, rubbing his calloused hands. "But I promised Iula that I'd deal with the bandits gathering again in the northeast..."
"Do you really think you can fend off an entire horde of savages without the power of the Aspect?" Li Lin countered.
Atreus inhaled sharply and paused for a moment. "There's still a faint trace of celestial energy lingering within me. I think I can manage."
"Don't worry about the bandits; I'll take care of them," Li Lin shook his head. "Time is of the essence. Once we're done with dinner, we'll begin your training."
Li Lin feared that the longer they delayed, the slimmer Atreus' chances would be of reigniting the celestial constellation of war. The urgency was clear.
"Tonight?" Atreus asked, visibly surprised. His body was strong enough to endure without rest, but the urgency in Li Lin's tone took him aback.
The farmhouse built of wooden planks and stone offered little in terms of soundproofing. It was easy for Iula in the kitchen to overhear their conversation. As the two men entered, Iula wiped her hands on her apron and looked up at Atreus.
"Tonight? What are you two training for?" she asked.
Atreus glanced at Li Lin beside him, hesitating before explaining. "Li Lin says he'll help me reignite the power of the celestial Aspect of War—"
"What?!" Iula interrupted, her voice trailing into a long nasal hum. Her weathered face was etched with confusion. "Didn't you tell me that the celestial Aspect of War had died completely?" She rushed to the window and peered out at the star-filled night sky. "Even the constellation of war has gone dark. How do you expect to regain its power?"
Her question wasn't directed solely at Atreus but also sought clarity from Li Lin.
"Through... combat?" Atreus offered weakly, seeking confirmation from Li Lin. But Li Lin only responded with a cryptic smile. "You'll find out after dinner."
---
The meal was a simple affair of vegetable stew and white bread. Though it wasn't particularly flavorful, the farm's produce and the modest pension from the Solari for fallen heroes' families ensured Iula lived comfortably enough. Spices were a luxury as rare as gold in the harsh lands of Mount Targon, and even salt elevated their meal above what many in Rakkor could afford.
Once they had eaten their fill, Atreus donned his armor and followed Iula, trailing behind Li Lin and Zoe. With the Aspect of Twilight present, reaching their destination was as simple as a thought. Zoe conjured a shimmering portal, saving Li Lin the trouble of summoning his mechs himself.
They emerged at the base of a mountain, far from the farmhouse and its fields. The clearing had once served as a training ground for Pylas and Iula, a place where Atreus had often been on the receiving end of countless beatings in his formative days.
The sight of the moss-covered training dummies brought a flood of memories, and Iula's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she was lost in thought. Atreus opened his mouth to say something but hesitated, unsure of how to approach the topic. Li Lin noticed and swiftly grabbed his arm, interrupting him before he could inadvertently reopen old wounds.
"Let's begin," Li Lin said, gesturing for Atreus to take a position in the training ground. Atreus tightened his helmet and moved to the designated spot. He twirled his spear, his muscles rippling as he prepared himself like the seasoned warrior he was. But his composure faltered when he saw Li Lin casually take a seat in the nearby viewing area.
"Wait... Aren't you the one fighting me?" Atreus asked, confused.
Li Lin chuckled. "Did I ever say that?"
"Then who—" Atreus began, but his question was cut short. A towering blue-white energy tore through the air, ripping open a rift that churned with a gusty wind.
Before the stunned gazes of Atreus and Iula, ten humanoid machines stepped out of the portal, their appearance flawless in mimicking human anatomy.
"Are those machines?" Iula asked instinctively. "Hextech, is it?"
Having hosted her share of passing travelers, Iula had heard tales of Piltover's marvels.
"Sort of," Li Lin replied. "They used to incorporate Hextech technology, but they've since been completely severed from magic."
He didn't delve into the specifics; neither Iula nor Atreus would have understood the details. As for Zoe, she was far more interested in watching the mechanical soldiers pummel Atreus—payback for all the orders he'd barked at her before.
"These are my mech troopers," Li Lin explained. "They're not optimized for combat, but they'll be enough for you to spar with."
Before Atreus could protest, Li Lin gave the order to the machines. "Don't stop until he's incapacitated—but don't kill him."
(End of Chapter)