3 Whatever Happens, Hold Your Head High

After the fight was over, Noxian forces fleeing from Ionian lands, every soldier alive tried to rush towards Aiden. They wanted to celebrate the hero who had saved them from an impending death. Even Irelia showed a rare smile. Yasuo looked at him with respect. The show of power and technique he had seen was something that only years of experience could bring.

Karma felt something she had never felt in her entire life. Her connection with the spiritual realm was one of the strongest, and what she could feel from Aiden was something she couldn't even hope to explain.

It wasn't just how loved by Magic he was, but even her connection with spirits seemed to pale in comparison to his. The man who had named himself Aiden was an existance that, in a matter of minutes from his appearance, she began looking up to.

-Now is not the moment to celebrate- his voice echoed throughout the entire place -First, we bury our dead and pray for them-

Irelia looked at him with a newfound respect. Somehow he seemed to be saddened. As if it was his own family which had died. This was something that even Aiden himself couldn't explain. It was as if, from the moment he chose Ionia as the place he woud call home, he was connected to it. He felt like the people arround him were his people.

'Noctis's body and power, surely' he thought to himself as he moved towards Irelia, who was still on the floor, sitting in the same position she had been when he saved her. Without saying anything, he extended his hand to help her up. She, smiling softly, accepted his help.

*

During the evening, after hundreds of bodies were buried, Aiden was talking and eating with many people in the Ionia City. The place acted as a Capital city, so the power was mostly concentrated in it.

People through the city were celebrating the joyful arrival of Aiden at such a time. Aiden himself was searching for a quite place to think to himself. In the morning of the next day, he would be introduced in front of the Ionian Ruling Council.

What he found was a down looking Irelia. She was staring at her reflection on one of her blades. He couldn't just see her in that state and do nothing, so he approached her. Slowly, making sure she didn't feel him coming, he got closer. When he was at an arms reach, he put a hand on top of her head.

This was something he did to his little brother when he was feeling sad, troubled or simply confused. He knew she wasn't his little brother, but he couldn't think of anything more fitting for the situation.

-What troubles you, Will of the Blades?- he asked her in a soothing voice. He wanted to make her feel safe and understood.

-Aiden, oh... I... *sigh*- she released a sigh, perhaps thinking that her problems were not important enough for her Saviour to be bothered with -It... isn't anything important-

-It is- he shut her attempts at avoiding the topic down. Sometimes it was best to give someone space, but that one wasn't one of those moments. -You can tell me. I ask because I care, not because I have to-

Somehow, his words seemed to dig deep in her mind and heart. She blushed slightly, something weird for her, who had fought in many battlefields since her youth. With evident worry in her eyes, she told him of her thoughts after every battle.

She told him of how she was constantly alert, because the Navori Brotherhood wanted to kill her. How she had to think of ways to defend Ionia from outer and inner threats. How she doubted her decisions and methods time and again, seeing her people die. She felt useless, but she had to push through, for those who trusted her.

Aiden frowned when he saw her lowering her head. That wasn't Irelia. Irelia was a brave woman who fought to protect the land and people she loved, but knew what mercy was. She felt sad when a fellow Ionian died, even if she didn't know him.

He squatted in front of her, who was sitting on a fallen tree trunk, and lifted her head by grabbing her chin. He looked her straight in the eyes.

-Irelia Lito, you weren't chosen to be a leader because you could save everyone. No one can save everyone- he told her, his voice raising little by little -You are not perfect and neither am I. Perfection doesn't exist-

Irelia was looking at him with shock written on her face. Wasn't he going to tell her that it was stupid? Why was he getting angry at her?

-You can't expect to always make the right decision! Mistakes are bound to happen!- he was now full on shouting. A small crowd had gathered around them, attracted by the commotion -We are at war, people will die! That is something you must accept!-

His angry expression then turned into a caring and warm smile, looking at her with respect.

-But you don't need to care about that. What you need to care about is their happiness- he said while he pointed at the people who, now a little embarrassed of enjoying the espectacle, were hearing his preaching -The Navori Brotherhood, they don't care. Zed's Shadow Order doesn't care-

He once again put a hand on her head and slowly patted it, caressing her hair. His smile seemed so bright, now that the sun had set and the blanket of night took over the sky, Irelia blushed from both the patting and how handsome he looked.

-Yet you care. You care so much that each death weighs on you- he remembered how Irelia had stared at Sion without fear. Only determination present in her eyes, even in the face of death -You care much that you put your mind and body in danger for them-

He didn't know when or why, but he found himself hugging the girl. She was so young. Someone his age shouldn't carry so much responsibility. He couldn't just take it from her, so he would share it instead. He would remain by her side and be the support she held on to when she couldn't stand on her own two feet.

-So always, always, whatever happens, hold your head high, Irelia- he finished, almost in a whisper, right by her ear.

Irelia had, at some point, hugged him back. The warmth his body transmitted burning all doubts from her being. She didn't wish to let go, so she gave a short reply that she could only hope would be enough -Thank you-