"I have felt this corruption before."~ Anivia, The Cryophoenix
Drop a comment. A review if you got the time. Any suggestions? And mayhaps a few stones.
Volume's title coming into play here. Bigger set up chapter than usual. And all of this was planned from the start just figuring out how to get there was the hard part. Now things are falling into place. And do not worry, the mini arc is not over yet. There is one more meeting left.
It took some thinking but I am considering dropping the ruined king storyline. I really like it and had plans for it but with current timeline it does not make sense. But they have fast travel. And it would be the only way after the stoppage of Hextech but with how I'm going to write it it might not be the case. Maybe it comes in as a side story afterwards? Let me know. I need some opinions.
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Gregori spotted some of the items in Soraka's yurt as she walked in to bring something out.
A statue of a dog headed creature.
He recognized the statue. Its shape. The clothing carved into the statue. Its style. "Nasus's statue." He said out loud.
She turned back and gave the item a glance, "That? Yes. it was a gift from a Shuriman child a long time ago."
Soraka walked back out with a stone in one hand and her curved staff in the other. She walked toward the beasts and then pulled out the necklace from Oompa's fur.
"You are carrying this with you?" She asked as she began to untie the thread that held the stones.
Gregori nodded.
"Even when you know that you are probably getting tracked with this?" She pushed without looking up.
"Better to carry it around instead of trying to anger the Aspect it is related to." He shrugged. "I do not think it would be a good idea for me to fight with a being I know nothing about. And even though I do not fear it..... transforming would only bring about more Aspects. And when they see a Darkin fighting an Aspect.... who do you think they would support?"
She nodded slowly, the stone in her hands began to glow and then the blue glow on the Targonite flashed for a second before taking on a more muted but cleaner glow. "This should do." She held it in front of her face and inspected it.
Gregori eyed the item, "Tell me.... was it only used to track us?"
Soraka shook her head as she continued observing the necklace, "Subtle mental manipulation of the wearer. That is its other purpose. It has been quite common these days. Once the new Aspect of Protection was chosen, he has been providing his followers with this. They give it to those who perform The Climb or anyone who catches their interest. The manipulation makes the climbers fail and those who have garnered interest will either be attacked or brought into their organization."
"And this manipulation is allowed?" He asked, "On something as sacred as The Climb?"
Soraka nodded, "The Climb tests one's fortitude. Mental fortitude still belongs to that test and this is considered an addition to the test. I do not find it something to be enjoyed but the Aspects do not listen to me."
"Won't they attack you for making your dissatisfaction known?" He asked.
Soraka laughed, "An Aspect's essence is in the stars. Do you think they can anger one who calls those very stars down? My title is not just for show Gregori. It carries real significance." She handed the necklace to him. "I assume you aren't the intended wearer."
Gregori nodded as he received it. "My daughter. Briar. She was the one it was given to."
"The child affected by blood magic?" She asked as she turned in the direction of where the children were playing. They weren't anywhere visible but Soraka could see them. She held out her hand, "Give it."
Gregori handed it to her without question.
There was a golden glow from the necklace as she handed it back.
"Then let her cherish it." Soraka said. "A gift from me."
"Thank you." Gregori replied as he held the necklace in his hands, "What have you done to it?"
"The runes you have wrapped around her arms and legs. I have inscribed them into the yellow stone." She answered.
Gregori looked at the glowing stone in thought before steeling himself, "Is it possible for you to heal her?"
She nodded, "Easily."
He bowed in her direction, "Then I ask-"
"No."
He looked up in shock and confusion. Soraka was not the kind to deny assistance. "W... why?" His shoulders trembled as he tried to understand her actions.
"That magic is something she will need for the future. I will not be depriving her of something that can shape the outcome of various decisions she would one day take." Soraka explained. "And right now.... that magic is doing only good things to her."
"How?" He couldn't help but ask.
She looked at him, "Tell me... what do those affected by blood magic seek?"
"Blood." Gregori replied instantly, "It calls to them. An addiction toward fresh blood since their own body needs fresh blood to form new blood."
She nodded, "And has your daughter been consuming blood? She does need a very small amount to survive."
"She does but the runes suppressed her magic." He replied. "There was no need."
"No." Soraka shook her head, "She is different from ordinary blood mages. Her body produces blood on its own, without any drawbacks. She has no desire to consume blood while also benefitting from the magic's power." She turned her head in their direction, "That child is what every one afflicted by blood magic hopes to be." She turned back to Gregori, her eyes boring into him, "Even you."
"I see." Gregori replied as he brought his hand up. He slowly clenched it into a fist, "So it has begun."
Soraka nodded solemnly, "Bring out your friend. We have a long overdue talk."
He raised his hand.
WHACK
Soraka's staff hit his hand. "Go bring it. Do not waste your gift of magic. It is not for something as trivial as this. And give your friend the respect of being picked up by you. Even if he cannot sense it."
"I apologize." Gregori said as he stood up and walked to the beasts. He reached for and pulled out his spear.
He came back to the campfire and slowly began to unwrap it.
"GREGORI!" Caalyx's voice erupted the moment it could be heard, "HE IS BACK!"
"Yes he is Caalyx." Soraka replied. "A recent development."
Caalyx's enthusiasm rose as he recognized her, "Starcaller. How are you?"
"I have nothing to complain about Caalyx." She answered, "How about you?"
Glee entered his voice, "I am having the time of my life. Constant excitement. Almost as if I was alive again."
"You are alive Caalyx."
"You know what I mean."
Gregori asked, "The two of you are acquainted?"
"Yes." Soraka answered, "A long time ago."
"Practically friends." Caalyx replied.
"I am wounded you would think that Caalyx." Soraka chuckled. "I did believe that we were friends."
"Then that is what we are."
"But enough about us." Soraka stopped the conversation, "What we need to talk about is you."
Caalyx's eye turned to Gregori. "Him?"
"Sense his magic."
A wave of energy rippled outward from Caalyx.
A moment later, he whispered, "Oh. It has begun."
Gregori let out a shaky breath. "Indeed it has." He looked between the two of them, "How long do I have?"
Ignoring Gregori, Caalyx asked Soraka, "Can you remove it?"
Soraka shook her head sadly, "I cannot. It is not standard blood magic Caalyx. This is a combination of three types of magic. Ascension. Blood magic. Voidcorruption. I cannot affect two of the three magics running though him at this moment."
"Can you slow it?" He asked.
"I have already done it." She gestured toward the campfire, its glow softening.
Gregori repeated his question, "How long do I have?"
"Forty years." Soraka answered, "Your whole lifespan."
He frowned.
"Only if you never use Caalyx again." She finished. "It took two full transformations for the magic to take root. It will only get worse from this moment on. Even partial transformations. If you do not use him ever again, the progression would be nearly nonconsequential."
"How may times can I transform fully?" He asked as he eyed the two beings.
Soraka frowned in thought, "You are still choosing to transform?"
"The burden of purpose Soraka." Gregori smiled contently, "I cannot leave my mission incomplete."
"It is not the amount of transformations that should concern you." She replied. "It is the duration."
Gregori frowned. "Isn't that how it is currently?"
"No." Caalyx answered, "That is how much blood you possess. This is how long before the corruption takes over you. Completely different things. One is irreversible. Every transformation from now on..... regardless of how small is going to affect you."
"Will I become weaker?" He asked.
Caalyx blinked, "No. You will only get stronger from now."
Gregori stared at the fire. He sat in silence. A few minutes later he broke it, "Then it is fine is it not? But I ask for only one thing."
"What is it?" Caalyx asked.
"Five years." He said. "I will spend five years with my family before continuing on the Darkin hunt."
"Not a problem." Caalyx replied instantly.
Gregori frowned, "How? Wasn't a war on the horizon?"
"Not anymore." Caalyx replied. "I sensed his return over a week ago."
"Whose?"
"The Emperor of Shurima Gregori." Soraka answered. "He has completed his Ascension."
Gregori's eyebrows rose, "The emperor? Shurima has none."
"My nephew. Omah Azir." Caalyx replied, "He has returned. His magic is bringing life back to the land."
"That girl.... with the Chalikar." Gregori began to place things together.
"The Chalikar?" Caalyx couldn't believe it, "You saw it?"
He nodded, "I was planning on telling it to you after we left Targon. She had the weapon for a number of years and seemed completely fine."
"Hold me." Caalyx said as he flew toward Gregori's hand.
The moment Gregori's hand wrapped around the spear, Caalyx began to search his memories for the interaction. "Oh! She has our features. This is a descendant of ours. Of mine. She shares my blood." Uncontrollable elation took over Caalyx, "The Shuriman royalty has not faded into the annals of history yet!"
"But how does the awakening of the emperor affect the Darkin?" Gregori brought him back to the topic.
"They will finally stop to think. Wonder. Question their decisions. Ask Naga if you want to make sure." Caalyx replied halfheartedly as he kept rewatching the memory of his descendant. "If their king had returned..... would they be willing to go up against him? It will take them years to make that decision. We have all the time in the world for this Gregori. Take your five years."
"Then I will not be reserved." Gregori answered as he smiled. He leaned back on his hands as he placed Caalyx back on the ground.
A plan formed in his mind. A plan for a home.