A Search Through Runeterra (Arcane)

"Zaun's with me every fight. This time's no different."~ Zeri, The Spark of Zaun

Hey! Last chapter was updated! Check it out if you haven't.

Double chapters return tomorrow 

Did you guys like the pictures I put up?

Also, Gregori speaks a lot more. As the story progressed, Gregori has changed. He is less unapproachable now. Smiles often and displays happiness.

Drop a comment, stone, review or meme!

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"Give me that and then you keep talking."

Gregori let go of the reins as Willa grabbed it off him.

"Hope your travel was nice Willa." He said.

Willa shook her head, "Never again." She had stayed inside the sleeping quarters the entire time. Just the concept of travel had thrown her off. And even though she was not seasick just bobbing about in the sea had made her feel angry and somewhat sick.

Hence, she made the smart decision to sleep off the entire travel.

How she slept for that long Gregori did not know. It might be something that came with age.

Willa turned her head and squinted at him.

"What?" He asked.

She squinted more, "I feel like you are thinking something about me that I would not like."

Gregori sighed and turned to the smiling James, turning the conversation back to where it was. "What is that?"

James turned toward the structure. "Piltover's greatest creation." He pointed to the structure. "Hextech."

"What does it do?" He asked.

"That moves things from here to there." James turned back and said slowly, "Instantly."

Gregori's eyes widened, "Instantly? H.. How?"

James shrugged, "Technology and magic they call it. I don't really know. Though that-" He pointed at it. "That is the reason a lot of ship travel toward Piltover has stopped. Why take a longer slower route instead of getting everything instantly." He sighed, "Even people can use it."

"Even people..." Gregori repeated, still in shock.

He knew instant movement was how Ryze travelled. Teleportation he had called it. But for anyone to be able to do it without any of the magical requirement was unbelievable.

"Trade's been boomin'. You can get almost anything sent across the world in an instant. Kalamanda.... it is a trade hub. Used to be autonomous until that fella come down. Councilman Brandis Reyes. Word is, he was exiled. But no one cares. He brings in money. Shurimans have never been more prosperous. Gold mining operations make up a majority of the work here and export too. And those glittering yellow gems. Sun stones. Or Sing Stones based on the sounds they make when struck at angles. Piltovans like them. High demand." James spoke about the place. "That thing there made all of it possible. Shipments that used to take a month to move do so instantly now. Production and sale is at an all time high. I've seen that thing. Hextech. Small blue glowing ball. Crazy how such a small thing is capable of that."

"One gem?"

James shrugged, "I don't know. You think they'll let one seaman go see the workings of that?"

"No.." Gregori shook his head, "I don't think so."

"Then that's about all I know." James said.

"Is all this-" Gregori waved around, "Affecting your work?"

He nodded. "Though I think my route is relatively safe." James continued, "Demacia isn't that into magic.... no matter how much technology is built into it."

Breaking out of his thoughts Gregori nodded. "Yeah..... though I think you should start thinking of changing to a fishing route instead."

"You think?" James asked.

Gregori nodded, "Things are changing James. You need to change with them."

James sighed. "I suppose." He turned to his crew, "Fishing huh..." A few seconds later, he made up his mind and turned back to Gregori. "Well then Gregori..... it seems that your family is urgently expecting your arrival on solid ground. And if you need anything..... even a return trip.... ship leaves in a week."

Gregori shook the man's hand and nodded. "Thanks James."

James waved him off and Gregori walked down the ramp and to his children.

"Guys.... we have officially reached...." He began as he stood in front of his children.

"KALAMANDA!" They yelled in response. Even Rell said the name with a small amount of excitement.

"Where do we go from here?" Faye cut in.

Gregori pointed south, "There. All the way along the mountains till we reach Targon."

"That massive mountain there?" Sydell asked.

Gregori nodded.

Despite the distance, Targon could still be spotted. It would always be there in the background. Scaling it brought great power as well as posed immense risk. That itself would be a warning to those who gazed upon the mountain.

"That light is from the mountain?" Annie asked.

"Yes."

The peak of Targon always emitted the light. A straight beam into the heavens. One that lit up the sky despite the time of day. It was a beacon and a pathway. Many believed that it was what brought the Celestials here.

"We are going there?" Faye asked as her eyes were drawn to the mountain.

Gregori nodded.

"All the way to the top?" She asked.

"No." Gregori answered, "That is a journey even I would not make. We just need to get to the foot of the mountain."

"Will Soraka be waiting for us there?" Daisy asked.

"Hopefully..." Gregori replied as he too looked in the direction.

Willa looked confused, "Soraka?"

"Soraka is-" Sydell began but Gregori raised his hand. "That will be a little surprise."

"A good one I hope." Willa looked at him with a smile.

Gregori nodded, "Oh you'll see."

The group slowly began walking toward the mountains. Willa sat on top of Loompa, her legs couldn't carry her far.

"These houses...." Daani said looking unimpressed.

Gregori patted Daani, "Well every place has different architecture little Oovi. These homes are built out of mud, rocks and bricks. It is all they need. Their environment is what forces them to build this way."

"The desert?" He asked.

Gregori nodded. He waved toward Briar, who turned around and tilted her head in his direction.

"Remember the snow in the Freljord?

She nodded.

"Shurima is just like that but with sand." He explained.

"All sand?" Annie asked. "So.... yellow?"

"Indeed. Fully yellow. And unlike the Freljord it is not cold. It is hot." Gregori pointed out.

"Hot?" Rell muttered, "Oh no..."

Gregori ruffled her bushy hair, "In many cases... yes. Hot is not good. Which is why we will not be going there."

"Thank you." She let out a sigh of relief.

He chuckled at the reaction.

"I still don't like the houses." Daani spoke.

Gregori frowned, "Why?"

"Squares and rectangles." Daani answered, "It doesn't feel natural."

He was taken aback. Daani was not someone who outright said that he did not like things. His Ionian blood was taking effect. He would begin to have an aversion to things that opposed nature and the natural way.

"Different places different houses." Gregori shrugged. He frowned for a moment, "Though I think it would do us some good to go to the market place."

"Why?" Sydell asked. "Is it on the way?"

Gregori shook his head, "No it should be that way." He pointed toward the giant structure.

"The obelisk?" Rell asked.

"That is not an obelisk but yes... there." Gregori corrected.

Rell frowned in the direction, "What is it then?"

Gregori began walking there, "It seems to be something that moves people and goods over long distances."

"So a sky ship?" Faye asked.

"It does it instantly." Gregori answered. 

"What does that mean?" Daisy asked.

Gregori sighed trying to figure out how to explain, "Um.. Imagine you are at Rakelstake and you blink and you arrive in Demacia."

"Why didn't we take that then?" Sydell asked frustrated.

"Because it doesn't exist in Demacia?" Gregori answered immediately.

And then it struck him. He remembered where he had seen the structure before. It was when he was entering Noxus alongside Katarina. The Medarda project. The tower they were building. He did not instantly put the two together but that one was under construction back then.

A smile slid onto his face. Ambessa was doing a lot of moves. Her crest flew in Aurma and in Kalamanda. Now she held the keys to some kind of teleporting device? Maybe she might make it onto the Trifarix and become the fourth member, though they might need a new name then. Trifarix was for the three after all.

A little walk later, the group arrived at the market.

Gregori paid the shopkeepers some of the Demacian gold and got them a couple young coconuts and some dates.

"Is that a fruit?" Briar asked as she received one from him.

Faye looked at the green coconut in her hand and nodded, "Probably."

Briar looked at her and then bit into the unripe coconut. It did absolutely nothing to the coconut.

"That is a tender coconut, they grow on those trees" Gregori explained as he pointed toward the trees. He reached for the blade at the side of the shop and lifted it up. It was a short blade and had the end tied to a pole with rope. Who would steal the blade he did not know. "Come here." He made the children line up in front of him.

"Hold you hand out."

They held the coconut out.

With a slice, he cut the top off each one, "Drink the water inside."

Without question they drank it.

"Woah!" Daani exclaimed.

The children were all impressed.

"Refreshing and tasty right?" Gregori said as he cut one for himself and Willa.

It was sweet and a little sour at the same time.

He saw Sydell finish it and begin to throw it. 

"Sydell wait." He called. He held his hand out to him. Sydell stopped and gave the empty coconut to him.

Gregori cut the coconut it half and used the cut off top to make a makeshift spoon. He scooped some of the jelly like flesh on the inside and held it out to his son, "Eat."

Sydell looked at it and squinted, unsure.

"Try it." He coaxed.

With his eyes closed Sydell tried it. "WOW!" He exclaimed and gabbed the spoon and ate the rest.

Gregori tilted his head and saw six more hands stretched out in his direction.

The blade in his hand moved and the children were left with a tasty snack.