Toward Noxus

"Never a dull moment."~ Heimerdinger, The Revered Inventor

Lemme spoil some things for Arcane only readers. Heimerdinger is dead but only temporarily. Yordles respawn in Bandle City. They cannot die because they are literally made of magic.

Katarina story this chapter. If you want to read the story mentioned in this chapter go to webtoons and search Katarina. Its 10 chapters long and pretty good.

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Gregori sat back in his position in the carriage.

The four of merchants including Arran had tried to have him sit with them in front but he chose to sit in the back, with no one to disturb him. He did not mind Katarina's presence. She watched him but made no moves. And now that he had given her something to think about, she wouldn't be making any bad decisions. 

He had expected her to be dangerous. 

And she was. She had gone into the heart of Demacia and had managed to kill the king. Jarvan the Third was not known for his fighting prowess but those close to him were well known on the battlefield, not to mention his age. His personal guard had a certain escaped warrior on their side. His presence on the fighting pits in Basilich were not easily forgotten.

Xin Zhao.

Gregori had heard of the man's spoils. One of the earliest Ionians to step foot in these lands. His life was as storied as his. Ionia to Noxus to Demacia. A storied life also meant big battles. This land was a land of war.

Anyone a certain age carried with them scars of battle. It was an inevitability. 

And this man had made a name for himself. His spear wielding skills had shocked a lot of the nobles in Noxus. And when he had deserted them, they wanted his head to roll. 

When they had heard of his success in Demacia, they had those overlooking the battle slaves killed and along with them, the remaining Reckoners. And when they finally met him on the battlefield? He had reaped them all for the crimes against him. All the while climbing to the position of Seneschal to the king himself. Accepted as a brother.

Who would have ever imagined the Reckoner named Viscero in the pits would reach those heights?

Boram Darkwill had made many mistakes.... having battle slaves fight in the frontlines for a country they had grown to despise was moronic at best, but none of his mistakes were as big as the invasion of Ionia.

Who in the right mind invaded a place said to be so filled with spirits, that the land itself was alive? You couldn't control the land itself. A symbiotic relationship was all they could hope to emulate but once blood had spilled? The land made its move.

Stories of trees strangling those who walked nears its branches spread across the nation like wildfire. Water drowned them when they weren't paying attention. Ground opened up at their feet.

To counter the acting of the land, General Swain had decided to deploy children onto the battlefield. Noxian children, with the goal to infiltrate and assassinate.

They were only partly successful.

The children had started to ditch them, only those with cursed weapons remained since they had no other choice.

The great battle that had taken place later had been a resounding defeat for Noxus. Resulting in the death of Darkwill and the taking over of a new order. The Trifarix.

Something that had interested Gregori for a while was the story of General swain having lost his wrist..... that too to a young girl.

He snorted at that.

The bastard deserved worse. He would be planning revenge. And it would be bad. Really bad.

He looked to the right to see Katarina climbing onto the carriage and sitting across him. She looked pensive but didn't speak. Deep in thought. Hopefully about the result of her actions.

Remorse was good. It meant that there was a possibility for change. He had sown the seeds and it was only his hope that they would sprout into a beautiful tree and not force her into a spiral of self destruction degrading her to a mindless killing machine.

His words had placed her at a junction and it would be up to her to choose the right path.

The carriage had started to move and his curiosity as to how she had managed to complete her assassination of the king with all of his personal guard near him.

"Dereen?" He asked.

Her eyes shot toward him in askance.

"If you wouldn't mind me asking.... could you tell me how you managed to complete your mission?" Her eyes widened as he spoke. "I have some idea of what you should have faced and let me tell you... this should have been an impossible mission. One you never should have been able to complete. So I truly wonder... How?"

Katarina did not reply. Instead she stared out of the carriage at the moving land.

He did not prod or force her to speak. This was a step. One she needed to take. Will she think of her own accord or will her training to keep mission details a secret take over.

Her decision now would pave her future.

It would be fine, if she did not reply to him as well. Once he reached Demacia himself, he could deduce how she had completed her mission.

Silence reigned for an hour.

After which she spoke.

"I knew it was a suicide mission."

Gregori met her eyes.

"And you took it willingly?"

She nodded. "There is a conspiracy involved regarding the mission, one I intend to figure out but the king was not the only target. There was also a girl. Luxanna Crownguard."

His eyes widened at the name.

"A Crownguard?"

"She was born a mage. A fact her brother hid from everyone." She smiled wistfully, "She tried to help the other mages. A nice girl. One who hadn't committed any crimes. So I chose to not kill her."

He just watched her.

"Her death would worsen the situation for mages there. I chose to let her live because she believed in what Demacia could become." Katarina continued.

Gregori also gave her a sad smile in return.

"It was pure luck that the mage, Sylas decided to break out of prison and start his rebellion. I realized that they would move the king to a safe room which could only be opened from the inside guaranteeing his safety. Hence I did the only thing I could, I entered it before them and waited behind the large throne. He entered. I killed him and made my escape." She continued.

He knew she was greatly shortening her experience but this was enough.

"What about the Seneschal? Xin Zhao. He wouldn't have let you kill the king."

She shook her head. "He was not there. Sent away on an errand. Even then, I could kill him and leave. No one could stop that. Not even him."

Gregori smirked. She was confident. How much of the confidence she could back up was up for discussion but her killing of the king was a hint of her skill.

"I suppose." He let her have the win. "What do you plan on doing now?"

Katarina looked out of the carriage once more, "I do not know anymore. There are too many unknown variables. I'll make a decision once I reach the capital. I need to get this healed." She said gesturing toward her injury. "There are things I know and things that confuse me. Its still a blur. I need to know some more before making a decision." She ran a hand through her her in frustration. A little bit of anger bled through her voice.

He recognized that tone. He had had the same tone many times. Desperation. She had broken through one wall in her mind but countless till remain. But there was still hope in her.

The fact that she spared the young Crownguard girl had put her in his good books. She wasn't heartless. 

He could give her a gentle nudge.

Gregori looked at her before looking outside as well, he then spoke, "I.... I have been in a similar situation. The only thing I can tell you to do is serve yourself. My life had no meaning for a long time and then I met my wife. She gave me control over my own life. Interacting with her was like a chore in the beginning but slowly I learned to prioritize what mattered. Funny things companions do to you. I doesn't have to be romantic companionship either. Friends. Siblings. All of them can help massively."

"Speaking of siblings, I have a bone to pick with my brother. He might not survive. So, I hope you don't put all your hopes on the favor he owes you."

With a little bit of surprise, Gregori nodded.

"I have various ways to get things done. Information can always be found by those looking for it."

"Can I ask you something?" She spoke.

"You may....." He answered, "Whether I reply is a different matter."

She shot him a dirty look before asking, "Who did you serve in the legion?"

He chuckled, "That I can answer. I did not serve anybody. Our Legion was a separate entity. Controlled only by a certain group. You have heard of the Gray Legion?" He asked.

After receiving a nod he continued, "A legion of the undead. Bodies defiled by Hemomancy. Forced to move even after death. The legion of death itself. But it wasn't only undead. It had those willing to die. A group of idiots who would only go into battles deemed unwinnable. Our job was to cause panic and take as many lives as possible. If we survived? Then we healed up and went for the next mission."

Her mouth was gaping at the revelation, "Greg..... You aren't Greg.... You are The Gray."

"I haven't been called that in a long time Katarina." Gregori said as he leaned his head onto the carriage. "And let me warn you.... I am stronger and more dangerous now."

She gulped. The Gray was famous. A warrior. He killed and killed. Like the omen of death. Like the incarnation of the Wolf itself. He had a near legendary status. Until disappearing like a leaf in the wind. No one had heard of him in so long. But the power in the name remained.

Soldiers were trained in the hopes of replicating any one of his feats.

That man was in front of her.

"I.....I expected you to be older." She pushed out.

He answered with a soft smile. "I'm thirty six years old. I AM old."

"Let me ask you a question now." He continued, "What do you think of Noxus?"