A Search Through Runeterra (Arcane)

"I like my enemies, like I like my bombs: about to explode!"~ Ziggs, The Hexplosives Expert

Hope you like what I'm doing here. More Lore chapters will be dropping soon. And for the lore heads here you know what's coming soon.

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As the kids walked around the market, Gregori turned his focus toward the structure.

"Shopkeeper, what is that?" He asked the coconut seller as he pointed toward the structure.

The teleportation device was tall. A massive tower that was constructed with heavy Piltovan aesthetics. Calculated. Clean. Sharp. Geometric designs ran the length of the tower. Golden accents made it stand out. The top of the structure was what stood out. A rounded sphere with a gear shaped, wing like constructs on either side, faced west.

West.

Where Piltover was.

"New?" The shopkeeper asked without turning to face him.

"Yes."

"Hextech Transporter." The shopkeeper replied, "Sends things from here to Piltover."

"Only Piltover?" Gregori asked.

The shopkeeper shrugged, "Seems to be pointing that way."

"How does it work?" He asked.

"I sell coconuts for a living." The shopkeeper answered, "The fuck would I know?"

Gregori sighed, "I apologize."

"Don't." The man waved him off, "You asked a question. I answered. Those your kids?"

Gregori looked at the children, "Yes."

The man nodded slowly, "Where you going?"

"I'd rather not say." Gregori declined to answer. No shopkeeper asked questions like that.

The man sighed, "It doesn't matter." His eyes darted around him before he leaned forward, "I suggest you leave before nightfall."

Gregori frowned. "Why?"

"Can't say anymore." The man spoke as he straightened. "There are eyes on you now. Your children included. Don't stay in one place for too long."

Gregori nodded. He reached into his bag and pulled out a couple coins and slid it into the man's hands. "Thanks."

The man took them, "I didn't do it for repayment but.... I'll take it."

SWWWOOOOOOOMMMM

A sudden hum erupted from the structure. Gregori and his children all looked up. Blue light lit up the structure through the geometric designs. A massive blue runic circle formed in the space in front of the sphere. 

PHHEEEWWW

A bolt of blue light shot through the air and it was gone in an instant. The light emitting from the structure faded away as it powered down.

"Second shipment of the day." The shopkeeper said as he too looked in that direction. "We might have a third. Depends on how much they've mined. There is one rule they follow though, no shipment at night."

"Does it fail at night?" Gregori asked.

The man chuckled, "Nope, it works just fine. People don't like things lighting up the night sky. We got one of those already." He said as he pushed him thumb out in the direction of the mountain behind him. "And I don't know if you have realized it yet but our windows are open."

"Safety risk." Gregori commented.

"For the one entering maybe." The man chuckled as he finished arranging all of his produce. "Shurimans fight tooth and nail. Dying if you take one of your enemies down is worth on all counts. And even then you will probably be out numbered. Lot of members in a family. I, myself have four children and 5 siblings."

"I know. I've traveled through the desert once." Gregori answered, "The earlier comment still stands. Cannot imagine losing a child."

"Through the desert? You must be quite the suicidal man." The man sighed, "Losing a child or a sibling is quite common here. You.... get used to it. Just need to ensure the family lives. The blood must carry on even if you are not carrying it yourself."

He nodded. Gregori understood the principle but he did not agree with it.

The man watched Gregori struggle to reply and then ushered him away, "Get going. You have places to be and I've got produce to sell."

Gregori gave the man a smile and a nod and continued toward his children.

The group wandered through the stores, Gregori used the opportunity to purchase some of their local produce and fill up on rations.

As the group begun to walk to the mountains, Gregori noticed Rell not following them. She stood a few steps behind them, her attention on something far away.

"Rell?" He called.

She didn't turn, "There are a lot of them."

Gregori knew what she was talking about. "They won't harm you ever again my lance. No one will." 

A bunch of Noxians roamed about in the port city. They carried with them, the Noxian flag and banners. Rell did not feel safe with that many Noxians in the vicinity.

Rell eventually turned away from them and continued onwards with them.

"HEY!"

Gregori turned around to see if the shout had been meant for them.

It was.

A couple Noxian soldiers walked up to them.

"Where are you from?" One of them asked, his hand firmly on his spear.

Gregori stepped in front, putting himself between the soldiers and the kids. "I do not recall doing anything to warrant your attention." He said calmly.

"Answer the question." The guard said harshly.

Gregori looked unperturbed, "Kalamanda is not a Noxian settlement. I do not need to reply to your questions."

"I said... ANSWER THE QUESTION!" The man pointed his spear in Gregori's direction.

Gregori pointed at the crest on his armor. "That crest. I suppose I cannot kill you then...." 

SHUNK

CLANK

The man fell to his knees, his spear falling to the side.

"Rul-" Another soldier stepped forward.

SHUNK

CLANK

He too fell to the ground and his armor clanged as he did so.

The soldiers in the vicinity fell as well.

"Leave those who aren't involved with your mission alone. You are not in Noxus. Your lord would not protect you from me even if you were." Gregori looked around him and watched as more Noxians began to charge in their direction.

But a woman raised her hand.

They stopped.

"Would you mind letting my men go?" The woman said as she walked up toward him. She had a haughty air to her. A cloth wrapped around her head as a singular braid of black hair fell down to her back. she wore more traditional Shuriman clothing, her stomach bare and her flowing silk pants baggy. She was a beautiful woman. However, Gregori could recognize the similarities of certain features in her.

The next instant the men found themselves able to move. They clambered to their feet and began to circle him.

"Halt. Fall back." The woman said.

The men listened.

"Don't worry." Gregori spoke. "I do not plan to talk about our meeting to any of your siblings."

The woman's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Acquainted?"

He shrugged, "More than." He then turned around and began to walk away.

The woman kept staring at his back.

"Lady Cassiopeia!" A voice called.

Gregori tilted his head in the direction of the caller. His breath hitched as he caught sight of the woman walking up to Cassiopeia Du Coteau. This woman was Shuriman. Black hair parted with a headpiece, her breasts covered by cloth that crossed over her chest. A scarf over her neck and armor covering her arms, hips and legs. She showed a lot of skin, even for someone of Shuriman decent.

She was beautiful.

But it was not her features that caught Gregori's eye.

No.

The thing that shocked him was the weapon that hung off her back.

He had seen it quite a few times in Caalyx's memories.

It was a crossblade, sharp on all sides. Four jewels inlaid on four blades of the weapon. A circular hole in the center for the user to hold onto. It looked special from the very first sight.

And among these lot..... Gregori was the only one who knew what it was.

The Chalikar.

He stopped walking and turned to the approaching woman, "Girl." He called.

She turned to him in askance.

"How long have you had that weapon?" He asked.

"Why do you want to know?" She asked.

Gregori smiled, "Humor me."

"Five years." She answered as she squinted.

Ah. Caalyx would be happy with this information.

Gregori nodded and then turned around, "If your words are true and you ever need help... come down toward Targon and look for me. Consider it a favor repaid."

Cassiopeia's eyes sharpened as she looked between Sivir and Gregori. Then she looked at the weapon on her back.

Had he found out about it? But he was extended a favor toward Sivir and not the weapon itself.

One question ran rampant in her mind. 

Who was this man?

He seemed to be well connected and strong.

Targon huh?

Maybe she would send a few spies down there herself.

Gregori led his children onwards.

"You know those people Gregori?" Willa asked from on top of Loompa.

Gregori nodded, "The noble over there. Her sister is the one who got Jarvan III and her brother helped me save these lot." He gestured to the children.

"The assassin?!" Willa exclaimed.

Gregori smiled, "Don't worry. Nothing short of multiple Darkin can actually harm you all when I'm here."

"Yeah you have enough blood for a full transformation." Sydell spoke, rolling his eyes. "Does not mean that you won't get hurt."

"I won't." Gregori smiled.

Sydell frowned at Gregori.

"Who's the other one?" Faye asked. "The one with the cool weapon."

"That should be one of Caalyx's relatives. Maybe even a direct descendant if her words are true." Gregori spoke.

The groups eyes turned to him at speeds he was sure would have hurt.

"""WHAT!"""