Decisions.

Since we were in the front of the entourage, it was us that stopped everyone from continue while glancing at the armed Noxians and Ionians in the village gates.

Karya was showing a complicated expression while the rest of the team, except Irelia and I, were already with their hands on their weapons or ready to jump in.

Letting Morpheus stay on the cart, I walked forward the gate with Karya and Irelia on my side while saying.

"Ask for the person in charge of the village to get out right now." Karya breathed deeply and shouted "WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE, PLEASE STEP OUT AND TALK WITH US."

Silence filled the area as the villagers seemed tense and nervous while looking at us.

After a couple minutes, just before Karya shouted once again, a group of people walked out from the village gates and stopped a few meters in front of Renzo.

There it was a Noxian female wearing a cape and clad In heavy armor, at her side was a lean Ionian in robes covered in plate armor around the shoulder and arms.

Guarding them, four more Noxians and two Ionians.

Looking at each one of them with detail, I cleared my throat and said "We are from the League of Legends, and we're here for talking about your cooperation, and the buildings were planning to construct in that shore." There was an authoritarian tone while saying that, as I pointed at the coast behind the village.

Just as Karya was about to translate him, the Noxian female started laughing out loud and said in Piltovian, "Hahahaha, thank you for breaking the tense atmosphere with that joke, now tell me, what do you want?" As she said the latter part she looked with a murderous glint at me.

Hyuna and Ymir gripped their weapons while getting ready to launch at the slightest sign of attack from their part.

The other side also did the same, however I was able to notice the unwillingness on their eyes.

Looking at the black haired female with a scar on her nose, I smiled at her and said "Are you the want in charge? Last time I checked this land belonged to Ionia, not Noxus." As I said that I started looking at my hand, searching for any kind of filth around my finger nails.

The female gulped down and gripped tightly the weapon on her waist. She then looked at the team beside me, alongside the swordsmen from the Kiheji school.

She then looked her gaze on Irelia and closed her eyes. "We don't want to fight, please walk away." She said with a slight change on her voice tone.

When she opened her eyes I saw a pleading look on them, she seems to know who Irelia was judging from her expression, or at least seemed to understand that she was in a bad position.

"There's no need to fight if you talk with us and let us start working, while there's a large coast around here, this is a good place for our objectives, so what do you said?" I asked while raising my eyebrow.

The female eyed me once again, and with a slight agitated tone said once again "Please just go away, we don't want troubles with neither all of you, can't you see that we're together in this?"

Karya tugged my clothes when she heard this, moving my head towards her I heard she saying "These guys seemed to be already allied with Noxus, let's finish this and continue with our things."

I didn't said anything to her, and looked back at the Noxian female.

"Tell me, where are you from?" I asked while sitting on the ground. The Noxian seemed to be more anxious by my attitude and said "Please, just go away, we don't have anything more to do with Noxus, we just want to leave in peace." While saying this, she grabbed the Ionian hand tightly.

Seeing this, I smiled while repeating the same question "Once again, where are you from?"

The Noxian bit her lower lips and answered "Qualthala" Her previous disposition and attitude nowhere to be found.

'I have no idea where that place is, shit.' I thought to myself after hearing her answer, still I didn't let it shown in my face while nodding my head.

"I see, well its normal if you liked here more. Nice people, beautiful scenery, rich lands and a lot of possibilities, don't you think so?" I said to her while smiling.

The Noxian slowly nodded her head and asked in a desperate tone "What's the point of all this? I-If you want to attack us do it already!" She bit her lips while her hand gripped tighter to the Ionian on her side, who seemed to be looking with a concerned expression all of this.

The Noxians were at the same time on edge while hearing us speak.

"Well, you see the point is, my companions here seemed to think this place would also make a nice place to rest for all the eternity." When I finished saying this, the Noxians took out their weapons while our team did the same, I however raised my hand and continue.

"However, I think it would only spoil this beautiful place all the dead and blood, so, why don't you start giving me reasons to not do that? Isn't that a better idea than asking us to leave?" I answered to her while raising my palms.

Raising one thumb I said "Give me one reason why I should tell my companions here to not kill you all, just one." I said with a smile.

The Noxian female looked frightful and answered with a shaky and unwilling voice "Y-you can work here and do what you want."

The Noxians looked at the female with frowns, nonetheless they were reading to launch themselves at the slight movement from my team.

I beamed with a smile at her response and clapped my hand while saying "That's a good reason, a really good reason. See? it wasn't that hard."

Karya also furrowed her brows at my response, she wanted to say something but held back.

"Now, order your people to put down their weapon, not do anything rash or stupid and let us enter. I promise that my people wouldn't touch nor create problem for any of you." I said to her while I started while forward, signaling my team to follow me.

The Noxians and Ionians grabbed their weapons and we're about to launch forward until they heard the female roaring "STOP! Put down your weapons and let them enter."

I saw her people giving her incredulous and unwilling looks, but she just stayed standing there with her head down. Bitting her lips tightly.

I stopped in front of her while putting my hand on her shoulder, patting her and saying "Sometimes good decisions are the hardest to choose." And continue walking.

I didn't bother with the looks the people were giving me as I said to Karya "Have all the people understand something, unless these guys attacks them, don't create trouble with them and focus on our task, if I happen to hear or see someone killing, injuring or creating trouble, I'll personally deal with them."

As I said that I turned around and looked at everyone's faces with a serious look.

"See this as a little experiment to see wether Noxians, Ionians and resistance could live together, or at least not create troubles. We cannot kill whoever choose to survive when they first invaded. And we cannot kill people who are unwilling to fight, this land had already shed enough blood, if we can, let prevented from happening." As I finished, I turned around and continue walking.

This decision was mostly due to one reason. I keep remembering the words of Master Baijo, and the troubles that wanton killing and cruelty brought to this land.

I didn't wish also to kill people who was clearly defeated even before fighting, just these guys alone got numbers enough to fight us head on, but what did they decide? For us to leave.

Right here, and right now I created a path for our faction to follow, one of confidence.

Confidence in our strength, with it we could always choose to kill these kind of people, but with it, we choose to give them one chance, to prove themselves and add, instead of resting.

I am confident enough on defeating them, so why bother with them?

As we entered through the village I took the time to look around for any significant thing. However, the village seemed to be like any other, although If I have to point out something was the surprisingly amount of pregnant woman around.

' So that's why.' I thought to myself.

I was thrown out of my thoughts as Morpheus run towards my leg and started meowing me to carry him, not letting my little fur of ball being alone I took into my arms as I continue walking.

The village have two gates, one that faced the path and another towards the coast. Although I wasnt able to see it, I was mostly sure that there should be some kind of port or something among those lines.

I stopped in the middle of the village, spanning around while looking at everyone outside I said to Karya "Tell them that we are hiring workers, those who wished to work have them join us while we are working." She nodded and started speaking loudly so people can hear her.

Meanwhile I continue walking towards the coast gate and opened it with Hyuna and Irelia help.

What greet us was a small path towards a small single pier made of woods. Sighing at the sight I knew that we may have to cut down some trees.

Thanking both girls I continue walking while inspected the area around.

The village port, if that thing could be called like that, was built above hard soil instead of the sand. The surface was quite big to be honest as I calculate with my eyes that it have at least forty to fifty meters.

Outside that area, the ground changed to a more sandy one and finally a beach at the right side, while in the left it stayed in a rocky terrain.

'I guess we have to put the salt buildings in the beach area, outside of the sand." I muttered myself while envisioning the place.

The walk between the village and the coast was ten minutes, nothing too crazy and not so far. By the time we reached it the various villagers that came with us started working while following the orders we've gave to them.

We also started building our camps and other necessary things, as we would stay here for at least two weeks.

The terrain around this village was quite lush and plain, good to see enemies approaching while also for crops.

With this in my I looked back at the village and sighed deeply, from here I was able to see the Noxians and Ionians looking over us with concerned expression on their faces.

I was certainly wondering if this was a good decision, after all they were traitors. Not only they were living with the Noxian, but also started families.

I was lucky that the everyone followed my command, because if it's was just random people from the resistance I'm sure they would have already disregarded everything and start killing these people.

A lot of people lost their families, houses and even themselves during the invasion, a hatred was formed and I wouldn't be able to blame them for doing such a thing.

After all, I would do the same, although a little bit different.

Turning my gaze towards the villagers working, I saw people erecting tents, grabbing shovels and planting something on the ground.

The builder in charge of other oven was moving the cart alongside ten villagers towards the designated position for the salt workplace.

After seeing everyone working I moved towards our team campment and asked for patrols of two to explore around the area, the elders from the previous village informed us that there were various villages around the area, and so far we only stumbled with two in the path.

If in those villages the situation was the same, then I would be in a tight spot and forced to control the area.

Mostly due to the danger that it could represent, not for me, but for these workers and the people that would remain here in the future.

I got to find a way to ensure stability and security on this place, since it was extremely important for our plan.

"Why so serious?" Suddenly Ymir voice reached my ears and I looked over her direction.

She was resting her body on a tree while grinning at me.

"Thinking about security." I answered to her while walking over her and sitting on a rock.

"Are you worried about those Noxians? You know better than I that we can easily take care of them." She answered while raising an eyebrow.

I nodded my heard to her words and said "It's the future, can be dangerous." I added while pointing with my chin towarda the retreating figures of the two scouts.

"If more Noxus villages, it can affect this." When Ymir heard this she seemed to understand my worry and said "I see." She then seemed to be thoughtful about something.

Nonetheless I decided to rest my mind for a bit and asked "How you get here? From Freljord."

When she heard this I clearly saw her face changing quickly in a dead pan look. 'Shit I asked something that I shouldn't have.', I thought.

However, Ymir looked at the sea while answering me with a calm tone "The village we used to live in was in constant attack from some creatures, all of this due to our belief in a demigod, it reached the point where we sailed through the ocean to escape. We weren't afraid of fighting, in the Freljord you live and die while fighting. But there's nothing you can do when those fights escape the mortal flesh and reach places such as dreams." As she said the last part I saw that this matter wasn't something she have already dealt with and it clearly heavy on her mind.

She moved her gaze back towards me and continue "So, our family and village decided to travel, and that's how I ended up here, nothing too crazy right?" She smiled and I nodded to her.

"A former refugee and a refugee now again." I said with a smile and she laughed at my remark.

"That I am, but I least now I can already fight." There was a smile while she said this.

We stayed chatting randomly about things, this helped me a lot to lift the stress of continuously thinking about the matter regarding the noxians.

Soon Tahru and Irelia also joined us as we spend the time watching over the workers finishing the campment, others starting fishing in the shore although with not much luck.

Those who were working on the oven and the salt workshop area have already starting erecting the basic wooden frame for the storage room while starting moving the various tools and things they would use.

By night, the basics were already completed, it was now a matter of time until they finished building the oven, various boiling pots and other buildings.

As we gathered to eat our meal I couldn't beat any longer Karya's piercing eyes during the whole time she was here and asked "What is it?"

Without moving her eyes from my face she said with a serious tone "Why are we letting those Noxians stay there?"

As the rest of the group heard this, I noticed how the sound of dimmed down, glancing briefly I saw everyone giving their attention to me, or at least for Karya's reaction.

Looking back at Karya I sighed and answer "Would you really kill those people, when they just wanted to continue living? I'm sure you've seen it, those pregnant women, do you really wanted to destroy the families instead of giving them a chance?" I looked intently at her answer.

Nonetheless, Karya didn't seemed to doubt her answer as she said "Yes, they destroyed more families and tainted our land forever."

Furrowing my brows slightly at her response I shook my head and said "I'm not in position for questioning your reasoning and hate, however you need to understand that those children about to born don't deserve nothing that you have in mind. Why bother acting like the Noxians? Tell me, what would you gain from all of this?" I asked with curiosity for her question.

She looked at the team and said "It's not about gaining something Renzo, it's paying back the damage they've done."

As I heard her answer I knew that I couldn't possibly reason with her. At least not with my own view of the matter.

She was someone that faced first-hand the horrors that war brought. And I know for our talks with the second squadron that she's been in the resistance for a year at least.

Thus, sighing I answered to her with honesty "Answering your question, we are letting those Noxians live because I can't bear myself to kill an already defeated enemy. I know it's a shitty answer for you, but that's how things are." As I finished I saw she glancing with anger at me, but then she closed her eyes and muttered "...I understand.." She then stand up and walked away of the campment.

I only closed my eyes and decided to remain firm with my decision. I didn't know if I was wrong or right while deciding this, nonetheless I would make sure to face the responsability for anything that might happen.

The rest of the team remained silent and just finished their meals.

After I did the same, I took Morpheus with me and decided to walk around the village. As I gotten closer to the village gates, I saw the guards getting nervous at my sight, not minding them I walked in the place and observe around.

There were less people outside than before, but the amount of Noxians and other people armed with weapons and armor was substantially greater.

When they saw me they looked at me with serious faces and started whispering among each other, meanwhile I saw the black haired Noxian female walking towards my position from one of the bigger buildings in the village.

'I guess it was a bad idea coming here.' I thought to myself as I was imagining the amount of questions and thinga this woman may say.

However, I was surprised when she asked me politely if I needed something, her face remained stoic and the light in dimmer in comparison of my last look at her face.

Slightly taken aback by this I just told her I was strolling around, nonetheless she remained beside me while I continue walking with Morpheus on my arms.

She only stopped after I walked away from the path gate and continue strolling through the night. Humming a song and looking at the beauty that Ionia could give.

As I sat in the foot of a tree on a hill, I was able to overlook the village and the coast were our people was resting.

From my point of view, only the lights could be seen. Without separating each side.

I just stayed there, observing everything while questioning and reasoning my actions in these days.

Not only for the ones I took today, but from the day I choose to fight for Ionia.

I wasn't an Ionian, so I couldn't understand well what Karya feel when hearing my decision. But that was also the reason I didn't think about harming these people.

'Why I am here? Did I really die? Or I was brought here by some reason?' I asked myself as I let a sigh take out the heavy feeling on my chest.

If you ask me a few months ago, I would have said to you that I was ready for an Isekai.

Now, I was sure that it was foolish for me to even think about that notion. Not only I was overwhelmingly underprepared, but I also found myself at lost in what to do.

Sure, I've got one objective, which was surviving the void, but then what? What about my life? Did I really wanted to stay on Ionia or whatever place the future might take me, and let myself being carried away?

I wanted to enjoy things in life, I wanted to be at peace and do my own things.

All of this... wasn't what I was looking for, but what can I do? It was my reality now.

"...Who is the man I wanted to become?..." I pondered to myself while seemingly looking at nothing in the horizon.

"That's a good question, who do you wish to become?" Suddenly a hoarse voice sounded at my side as I jumped in fright.

"..What the fuck!?.." It didn't helped that in this world really existed ghost, specters and the like.

Standing a few meters on my right side was a hooded figure of a elder woman. I wasn't able to look into her features, but I was sure that she was a female, just for her voice alone.

Channeling the tremors around my body, I looked carefully around while I was planning to run in case of danger.

The elder woman chuckled while saying "I'm not a ghost nor a spirit young man, not need to act so frightful." As she said that I saw her sitting on her position.

I didn't said anything and continue looking, Morpheus was beside me looking around seemingly lost, he was deep asleep after all.

"So, who do you want to become? The Fist of Ionia, or Renzo?" She asked once again.

I stayed in silence for a few minutes, until I decided to answer this female. For all I know, she didn't seemed to be hostile towards me, nonetheless I didn't let my guard down.

"That's something I wish to know myself."

Hearing my words she stayed silent for a moment and said "A man of your caliber should be dreaming of great achievements and starting to fulfill his ambitions, yet you are here on a coast with a long face overlooking a camp of people fishing and gaining salt."

I furrowed my brows when I noticed that this female seemed to be familiar with me, nonetheless I didnt asked from where she knew me and continue listen to her.

"Be it in Bilgewater or Noxus, even in Freljord, someone with your strength would be living a fulfilling life, why stay here?" She asked me and turned to look at me.

Her yellow eyes glowed through the night as I looked attentively to her.

Thinking about her words I just shook my head and answered "I'm not in those places, I am here right now. That's why."

I swear I saw her smiling after finishing my answer, as she just asked me "What if I can take you to those places?"

At her question I just scoffed and simply said "Sorry not interested, I learned since young to never trust shady people." I said while I decided to walk away.

I was intrigued by who this person might be, but do I really wish to know the answer for that?

"Hahaha, well, that's makes thing more interesting Renzo, see you next time." She said as I was retreating and saw her figure disappearing in a puff of black smoke.

'What the...' I thought to myself as I took Morpheus once again in my arms.

Not wanting to taste my luck anymore I hastily make way towards the campment while passing through the village without bothering with the people looking at me.

As I reached over my tent, I lay on my bed and let my tired body rest for a bit.

I only hope my mind could also get a bit of relief this night too.

-----

"Hmm, let's see who I can work with at your side." Side a pale woman with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"If he could survive that in Ionia, then it's worth the time spend on him." she pondered to herself while grabbing a wand from inside of her black robes.

"... Let's make it so that he wont keep interfering with the plans..." as she said this, her golden eyes glowed and she started walking through a corridor that was dimly illuminated.

Passing through the corridors, various other hooded figures could be seen walking around while she seemed to be thinking further.

"...but even for his return he may be helpful?... No, not really..." She seemed to reach a conclusion as she put a foot inside of a green glowing room.

"Well, lets see how he do with Duqal first." Finishing her words she disappeared.