Section 8: The lonely shadow fades away

"Just silently watching you turn away and leave, I don't know if I can see you again in this life, how many times are there such partings in life, as if each other is dead, maybe we are really dead, because we will all end up being vague traces in each other's memories......

- [paragraph]

One

York led Wayne into his tavern, his big black face with two tear streaks, and his eyes were still red, like a child who had just been bullied. The rest of the guests in the tavern saw Wayne coming in, and one by one, as if they had seen death, they picked up their things and walked out the door. There was one exception, however, and that was a man in a brown cloak sitting by the window. The guy looks strong and can't see his face because of the large hood on his head.

Wayne took a seat in the middle of the tavern and squinted at the brown cloak not far away, who seemed to be looking at her with his peripheral vision. York brought a bottle of wine and a glass from the back kitchen, and his hands trembled. "This—this is the wine made by Gegaras—brewed!" he stumbled.

"Well, I don't usually drink, but as long as I drink, I only drink what he brews. Wayne said as he poured the wine into his glass. York stared intently at the glass that was constantly being filled, as if there was gold in it.

"What's the problem, Boss York?" Wayne raised his glass and sniffed, looking like he was enjoying it.

"No—no problem. York's face flushed all at once, and he lowered his head, trying to avoid Vayne's gaze.

"Take another glass, and another bottle of wine, and drink with me. Wayne commanded.

York stood there as if by immobilization magic, his eyes fixed on the glass of wine on the table.

"Don't you want to, Boss York?" said Wayne, picking up his glass and taking a sip.

"No—no, of course I do. York's voice was hoarse, and he never dared to look up when he spoke. Wayne waved his hand and motioned for York to go back and get the wine and glasses, and York immediately turned around and walked to the back kitchen.

York came back with two more bottles and a glass. He sat down across from Vayne and gently placed the bottle and glass on the table, and before he could react, Vane picked up his own bottle and poured him a glass.

"Thanks—thank you!" beads of sweat oozed from York's forehead, and he knew that the wine he had given Wayne earlier was a "sip of drunkenness" from Gragas, and it was definitely what it sounded like.

"Cheers, Boss York!" Wayne touched York's with his own glass.

York shuddered and picked up the wine glass and took a sip, which almost killed him, this wine, to be precise, was chili oil at all. York felt his tongue grow several times, and his body was sweating profusely.

"It's a good wine. Wayne held up his empty glass and said, "Drink him up, Boss York, it's not easy for me to come here." ”

Out of fear of Wayne, York didn't dare to disobey, but he knew that after drinking this drink, he would definitely get drunk and unconscious, however, he couldn't care so much at the moment...... York drank the wine from his glass with his eyes closed, and he felt like his brain had been hollowed out, and his body felt like it had fallen to the table in front of him with a muffled thud.

"Boss York, I received a request from the Alliance's Security Affairs Center to come to you, and they told me that there are traces of dark wizards here, have you found anything here?" Vayne looked at York, who was lying drowsy on the table.

"No—no—no—" York was visibly on the verge of falling asleep.

"Haven't you been in contact with summoners or magicians?" Vayne asked, seemingly sure that she would get some important information from York.

"Summon—summoner, I hate summoner!" York slammed his fist on the table.

"Why do you hate summoners, tell me about it!" there was a hint of joy in Vayne's words, and she knew that her goal was almost achieved.

"That's- that was thirteen years ago......

While the liquor caused York's mind to start to mess up, certain experiences seemed to be preserved like scars in the depths of his mind. The pain allowed him to fight against his lethargic desires—the chaotic light and shadow swirled rapidly in his mind, until he found the part where fresh blood was still flowing, and then slowly stopped......

Two

"The cold moonlight cut through the darkness of the night mist, and the blood that burst out of the wound turned into an even more terrifying shadow that rampant through the world. In the inky sky, a few looming stars struggled in the thick clouds, but soon succumbed to the tragic fate from which they could not escape. The wind swept through the earthly grievances, ravaged the land sealed by snow and ice, and then blended deeper into the night with the lustful laughter of the conqueror. It didn't take long for the mighty moon disk to fade its brilliance, and the night and the wind seemed to transform into some terrible demon at that moment, and as it marched forward like a bamboo, it let out a chaotic and indescribable roar.

The lonely hut on the grass and plains was evident unable to resist the cold north wind and the boundless darkness, and it creaked and creaked like a shiver. York and Jane sat around the fire in the center of the room, both dressed in thick clothes.

"It's cold, it's been a long time since Doha has been so cold. Jani touched her bulging belly, she was clearly pregnant.

"yes! It's been terrible lately!" complained York. The wind crept in through some of the cracks in the cabin and whined and choked York and Jane. However, this seems to be just the beginning......

Without warning, the door was opened from the outside, and the cold north wind poured into the house like a pack of hungry beasts having found their prey. The stove was blown all over the house with the ashes of Mars, and York and Jane rubbed their eyes and coughed. "Y-who?" asked York, as he saw a tall figure in a red robe in a blur.

The door was shut, and York and Jenny were able to see the intruder. It was a tall, red-cloaked man holding a swaddled baby in his hands, but his face was obscured by the shadow cast by the hood.

"Y-who are you?" asked York, whispering, a little afraid of the intruder, for the creature seemed to have a powerful force field around him that made the air in the room hot and oppressive.

"That's not what you're asking. The man in red spoke. Both York and Jane felt dizzy, as if the words were not being heard, but coming from somewhere in their bodies and ringing in their minds. The man in red gently placed the baby on the table beside him and touched the little one's face. At this time, York suddenly noticed that the man in red was covered in blood, and he guessed that the man should have been injured.

"You're not welcome, intruder!" said York, boldly.

"It's a request," said the man in red, softly, but in a deep voice, "if you don't comply—you'll all die!" York felt a strong wind blowing against him, stronger than the wind that had just poured in from outside the house, and he couldn't open his eyes a little.

"We're all civilians, we have nothing, and we can't help you. Jani clutched her stomach and said to the man in red.

The man turned to Jani, who immediately took a step back timidly, and at the same time, she saw the gold wyvern ornament inlaid with magic crystals on the man's collar, which was only half the size of a palm, but it was extremely dazzling. "Y-you-you-" Janny pointed at the man in red, surprise and fear written on his face.

"This boy, his parents have just died, you must raise him and treat him as your own son. ”

The man in red said to the Yorkes in a very strong tone.

"You're a summoner?" York, apparently noticing the ornament that identified the man in red.

"You know too much!" the man in red raised a few decibels, but his tone remained calm. He looked like he was standing there and doing nothing, but Jani, who was not far away, sat on the ground screaming, and most of the white robe under her tweed coat was stained red with blood......

"Y-what did you do to my wife?" said York, looking at Jani, who was bleeding from her lower body, and broke out in a cold sweat.

"It's nothing, I cursed your wife, and you won't have any children of your own in this life!" replied the man in red disdainfully, as if Jani was not a human in his eyes.

"You-" York was visibly angry, his eyes flushed and some clear liquid glistening in his sockets. It was probably the most manly time in York's life, and he took out a large axe from under the bed, slashed at the man in red with all his might, and let out a sickly scream.

The man in red still stood still, as if waiting for death to come. However, just as the axe was about to touch his head, a powerful force crushed the axe and the handle from the outside into pieces the size of a grain of rice—and York screamed and took several steps back, and bent down in pain, his hands covered in blisters and frostbite as if they were frostbitten.

"In Valoran, strength is power, don't do meaningless struggles!" The tone of the man in red was even colder than the yin wind outside, "I will kill you, that is, in the blink of an eye!"

"Please, please let us go, we don't know you, why are you doing this to us?" said Jani, sitting in a pool of blood and crying. The child in her womb had died, and at this moment, even her own life was slowly dying.

"There are many times when a tragic fate befalls someone for no reason, and don't ask why, because mortals are not qualified to ask that. The red-robed man turned sideways and prepared to walk towards the door, "This kid's name is Anton Salon, he has a noble summoner bloodline, you have to treat him well, and don't let him go to the War College!"

The man in red opened the door and left, and York hurriedly crawled to his wife, only then did he find that his wife's and son's blood had stopped, and that there should be no danger to his life except that his face was pale.

"Are you alright, Janie?" asked York, concerned.

"And- it's okay, the summoner probably used magic to stop the bleeding, I think—" Jani didn't finish the rest of her sentence, she went limp, and fell into York's arms. 」

Three

York's eyes were filled with tears as he lay on the table, pounding the table with a fist in one hand and an empty wine glass in the other. Perhaps, at this moment, he is already delirious, but the memories bring real pain.

"My poor wife, poor child!" said York, but it did not hide the sadness in his words.

"Power is power" Wayne opened an unopened bottle of wine, raised the bottle and took a big sip, "This is a famous saying of League of Legends." Those who wield power and powerful magic have turned the world into chaos. ”

"I hate summoners!" said York, and fell unconscious on the table. Wayne looked at York's still sad black face, and there was no trace of pity in her eyes, although there should have been such an emotion, but her compassion had been taken away by a tragic fate many years ago. She rose from her seat, took a cup-sized gold coin from her pocket, and placed it in York's hand. Just as she was about to leave, she couldn't move her feet from the sharp abdominal pain that came for no reason.

"Don't bear it any longer, Wayne, I know you're in pain!" said the man in the brown cloak, judging by his voice, the man must be fifty or sixty years old.

"Y-who are you?" Wayne put her hand on the table beside her, she was in pain and couldn't straighten up.

"You don't need to know this. In short, this medicine will not kill you, it will make you sleep for hours and wake up and forget everything that happened tonight. The old man in the brown cloak said, his words full of pride.

Wayne chuckled, beads of sweat on her forehead and her face turning pale. "Looks like you've put a lot of thought into using space-time spells to poison, Stanny!" she said, raising the arm equipped with the Arrow Crossbow Launcher.

"Oh, you recognize me!, Vayne!" Stanley said with a laugh, "but I bet you can't shoot that arrow!"

Stanley was right, Wayne's vision was blurry, and she couldn't even see Stanley's exact location. "Anton Ssalon—how many protectors are there?," she used her last strength to finish the sentence.

"Given that you're going to forget what happened tonight," Stanley said in a smooth, uncomfortable tone, "I can tell you! There are nine of them, seven of them still alive, and five of them are heroes of the League who fought with you. ”

Four

Anton Saron came out of Anrela's house just in time to see Asrema and Aroni, and he should have been happy to see the person he had been thinking about, but he couldn't.

"Hello! Anton Saron!" Asrema politely greeted Anton Salon, who bowed in return. Unfortunately, Arronie turned her head to the side as if she hadn't seen Anton-Saron.

Asrema walked into Anrila's house, leaving Anton Saron and Arroni behind. Anton Saron has two choices at the moment, one is to leave directly and return indifference with indifference, and the other is to take advantage of the rare opportunity to strike up a conversation with Eloni. Clearly, he chose the latter, even if it might be wrong.

"Hello, Miss Eroon!" said Anton Sharon politely.

"Hey, hello. Arconi replied coldly.

"I-" Anton Saron stopped talking, not knowing if he should say something.

Eroni looked at Anton Sharon with some puzzlement, "What do you want to say, right? I'm a straightforward person, if you have something to say, say it quickly!"

"I—can I—be friends with you?" said Anton Sallon after a long hesitation.

"I don't care if I have one more friend. Eloni said, holding out a hand, which is Debang's etiquette.

Anton Salons looked at Eloni in surprise, he never expected that the other party would agree so easily. "Thank you, Miss Eronia!" he cried with emotion.

- [paragraph]

"What did you do when you came to our house, Lord Baron!" Anrila looked at Asrema in disgust.

"I'm just here to tell you that in a month a man named Agad Spellbreaker will come and fetch his sword, and for the safety of the two, we have not told him about his wife's relationship with the two. I'm leaving, going to the War College, and I'm leaving tomorrow!!" Asrema said, turning and walking towards the door.

"Wait a minute!" called out to Asrema.

"Is there anything else, Master Berlito?" asked Asrema.

"Farina, my sister's daughter, what's her name?"

"I've heard it's Raven Spellbreaker*. ”

Five

Anton Saron woke up unusually early today, but he still almost missed the most important thing, today was the day Eroni and Asrema went to the War College. When Anton Sharon arrived at the York Tavern, Elony was holding Asrema's arm and saying something, and the two of them were smiling like blooming summer flowers, even if they would wither in the next second, this second would show the world that it was intense and brilliant.

"It's time to go, Annie*!" greeted Mrs. Brad.

"Yes, Grandma, here we are!" Eloni took Asrema by the hand and ran towards a splendid dome carriage that looked like a jovial fawn.

Anton Salons felt very lost, even though he knew that this emotion came out of nowhere. He wanted to give Arroni the gift he had carefully prepared, but at the moment, his feet seemed to be under some kind of magic. "I don't care if I have one more friend," he suddenly remembered what Eroni had said to him last night.

"Hey, what's wrong, you can come with us!" Asrema walked up to Anton Saron and looked at the other man's indescribably complicated expression.

Anton Sharon looked at Asrema in surprise, not only because he hadn't seen how Asrema had come here, but also because he had rarely been accepted like this.

"Oh, no, thank you!" said Anton Saron politely, "please help me give this painting to Eroni." ”

Asrema took the painting from Anton Salon's hand and folded it in half without looking at it, "Okay, we'll wait for you at the War College!"

Two white horses pulled the ornate carriage carrying Arconi and Asrema towards the War College, and Anton Sharon looked at the van that was gradually moving away, and his heart was slightly sour. The dull sound of the wheels turning was tugging at his heartstrings, bringing him pain and an old and sad parting song...... However, the only thing that relieved him was that Elony could see the painting, and the poem on it.

- [paragraph]

"What is this?" asked Aroni, taking a yellowed piece of parchment from Asrema's hand.

"It's a gift from Anton Salon!" replied Asrema.

"Let's see!" said Aroni, opening the parchment. It was a painting of a beautiful young girl, who was now snuggled in the arms of the young man beside her, the sun was softly sprinkled on the two of them, like a thin layer of gold dust, and the warm wind caressed the green grass under their feet, and also caressed their cheeks full of happiness......

"What is this drawing?" Eloni seemed to be unable to understand the content of the painting.

"It's the two of us who are drawn. Asrema wrapped her strong arms around Aroni's slender waist.

"I don't think I'm that ugly!" said Aroni, folding the painting back and tossing it aside in disgust when she found the large piece of grease on the back of the parchment. Coincidentally, the curtain of the carriage was lifted by the wind at this moment, and the parchment slid through the open window to the outside of the carriage......

Aslema looked at where the parchment had disappeared and whispered to Aroni, "There seem to be a few lines on it, and you don't see it." ”

"Forget it, it's useless to keep that dirty stuff, as long as you're still with me!" said Arroni, resting her head on Aslema's shoulder.

"I suggest you don't tell Anton Saron about this, or he'll die of grief!" Asrema kissed Aroni's silky hair.

"It doesn't matter how tired others are, as long as we're happy!" said Arroni, fiddling with Asrema's fingers.

The yellowed parchment lay quietly on the grass, with a few drops of crystal dew on it, like someone's tears that had been forgotten by someone inadvertently. The gentle sunlight spread evenly on it, and the lines of words written in gold paint shone brightly:

"The god of fate tossed his roulette wheel by mistake

Let you and I meet on the shores of the beautiful glittering gold lake

It's like a dream, and I can't go back

When I woke up, I found that I was on this shore and you were on the other side

There are millions of words in the heart, and there are words that seem to be speechless

Tears are hard to see through, no chance is better than fate"

Six

Anton Salons walked in the direction of Harvey Village, for some reason, he only wanted to do one thing at the moment, and that was to take another look at the Shining Gold Lake. I've known Arroni for almost a month, and every day I look forward to seeing her sooner, and every time I see her, I hope she can look at herself more, even though there will be Asrema where there is, although the ambiguity between her and Asrema will make her miserable. Now that Arconi is gone, Anton Ssalon's mind is like a knot of dead threads, both unprovoked relief and lingering loss, both wanting to meet Arconi at the War College immediately, but also worrying that he will not know what to say after the meeting.

The grass of August, like a moody child, has just been sunny and the sky is clear, and now the clouds cover the sun. The clouds in the sky quickly gathered, and the color began to change from white to black. As soon as you look up, you will be in awe of the majesty of nature, and although there is no wind around, the clouds can quickly swim in the sky, like a queue for a grand funeral, or like speeding forward on the trajectory of fate.

When Anton Saron walked to the kennel, the inky clouds had already obscured half of the sky, and the surrounding light was very dim, and there was no wind, which made people feel very oppressive. "If only the soup was still there. He muttered to himself as he looked at the kennel not far away.

"Who broke my windmill!?"

Although the voice was coming from a distance, Anton Salon, who could still sense the speaker's anger, turned his head to the source of the sound, and saw a badly damaged windmill 50 feet away, next to which stood a short and fat man, who ran away after a few seconds, and it seemed that the guy was a little nervous, because he almost fell down while running. Driven by curiosity, Anton Saron ran to the windmill, and when he arrived, he almost fainted at the sight before him......

Under the broken windmill lay a middle-aged man, his original gray-white robe was mostly stained red with blood, the blood on his mouth and nose had dried up, and the texture and shape of bones were faintly visible on his pale face...... Actually, Anton Salons originally knew this person.

"Great-uncle?" he asked tentatively, how he wished the scrawny man wasn't Salamud, yet ......

Salamud smiled at him, "Ann-Anton, good morning!" His voice was so weak that he needed the full attention of others to barely hear it.

"Uncle, what's wrong with you?" said Anton Sharon squatting down and crying.

"Great-uncle-I-dying. Salamud kept a smile on his face as much as he could, but that didn't hide the immense pain he was suffering.

"Who is it? Who is it? I want to avenge my uncle!" Anton Saron bowed his head and wept bitterly.

"Uncle doesn't need you—revenge, uncle—has already dealt with — that person. Salamod touched Anton Salon's head with his dry hand.

"Uncle, hold on, I'll go find my sister!" Anton Saron was already crying into tears, "I've lost the soup, I can't lose you anymore!"

"Come back!" Salamod shouted to Anton Saron, who was about to get up and leave, and as soon as he finished speaking, he coughed bitterly, and with a cough, something red was coughed out.

"Uncle, uncle!" Anton Sharon turned and patted Salamud on the back in an attempt to make him feel better.

"Anton Salon!" Salamod gripped Anton Salon's shirt tightly with his withered hands, "Listen! Live well! Be a great man like your father!"

"My father?" said Anton Salon's face with surprise written on it.

"Yes, Anton, you have the blood of the ancient summoner family in your veins. Salamod had some difficulty breathing, and he tried his best to be as clear and precise as possible to say what he wanted to say, even though it was really difficult, "You will meet many people in the future, suffer a lot of tragic things, learn to protect yourself, have a firm goal, and work hard to achieve it!"

"Uncle—please—" Anton Saron had forgotten what he had just wanted to say, and the sight before him seemed to drown him in fear and sorrow...... The flickering light in Salamud's eyes suddenly went out like a light bulb that had been de-energized. The dilated pupils are like a black hole with infinite gravitational pull, swallowing up all the colors, lights, joys, and happiness in the world......

Seven

Anton Salon, father and daughter, Anrela, stood in front of Salamod's tomb, each placing the white flowers in their hands on the marble foundation. Next to Salamod's tombstone is a slightly smaller one, which is from the soup.

"Don't weep at the grave of the soup, it is a neglect of life, a groveling of death!" Anton Saron's ears echoed what Salamod had said, and he did, and he never let the tears flow from his eyes, although the suppression of his own emotions would make him more painful.

"The happiness of the living is the greatest consolation to the dead! If I die one day, I definitely don't want anyone to cry at my grave, if I can watch them eat a beautiful barbecue at my grave, I will be very happy!"

"Uncle, I brought you barbecue. Anton Salong took out a paper bag from his travel bag, placed it on the grass next to the tomb, and then took out a piece of warm beef from it and ate it, with the bitterness of tears and the coldness of the grass...... A large hand tapped him on the shoulder from behind, and he turned to see Salamod's unshaven face. At this moment, Salamod was smiling at him......

"Are you really leaving?" said Angela's eyes filled with tears of sadness.

"Yes, sister," Anton Salonn stood up and turned his head slightly, "I want to be a summoner, to be a respectable person, and from now on, the purpose of my life is to not let anyone around me be harmed!"

Anrela and Berlito looked at Anton Sharon in surprise, they knew that this was no longer the back of a thirteen-year-old child, and in that thin body there was a stoic and tenacious soul.

"If you're going to the War College, I'll have to find someone for you who can keep you safe. Berrito said.

"Thank you, Mr. Berito, I don't think so!" Anton Salon, turning to Berlito, his face full of determination and bravery, as if he was no longer a powerless child, but an incomparably powerful summoner.

The neighing of the horses cut through the silence of the grass/plain, and the three people standing in front of Salamod's tomb followed the prestige, only to see a strong figure in a purple cloak not far away, and the brown horse under his crotch was also exceptionally strong, and it was fitting to describe this person as "tall and big".

"Well, Anton, follow the Shining Gold River to the northwest all the way north, don't take the avenue, and try to avoid the ruins of the royal city of Agaster*. Berlito patted Anton Salon's shoulder and brought the same determined gaze to the other party, "Be careful on the road!"

"Anton!" Anrela hugged Anton Salonn with tears, she hugged it so tightly that Anton Salons couldn't breathe, "Remember to write to me when you get to the War College, and I will write to you too!"

"Okay, sister, I'll be waiting for you at the War College!" Anton Sharon gently pushed Angela away, tightening the straps of his duffel bag and making a decisive turn. Several times, he wanted to look back at Angela and Berlito again, but he knew that once he did, it would be difficult for him to take another step.

Anrela looked at Anton Saron's back as he gradually moved away, and many complicated feelings lingered in her heart, she regretted that she couldn't keep Anton Salon, but after thinking about it, it seemed that she couldn't keep him. "Dad, why don't you stop him?

"Don't worry, my daughter, do you see the guy in the purple cloak?" Berlito gestured to the stout figure riding away.

"Y-who is he?" asked Anrela.

"Jax, the League of Legends people call him "Master of Weapons". He is a mysterious man with multiple identities, and this time, he will probably play the role of Anton Salon's protector. Berlito replied.

【Ending Poem】

"You are going to go thousands of miles now, and we have been together for many years.

There is no way to send it every year, and the flowering period does not dare to bloom every year.

The fate of people is gone, and Fanghua sighs and does not come back.

The Golden Pavilion has been built for hundreds of generations, and the ** green mountains are still there.

Fusheng turned his head like a dream, and the green silk became snow and mourned alone. 」

[Author's Note]

* Raven Spellbreaker: League of Legends hero, known as "Banished Blade". At the time of this book, Raven had not yet joined League of Legends.

*Annie: Eroni's nickname, a nickname commonly used in the West to refer to one's family.

* Agarst Castle: The capital of a kingdom that existed before the Rune Wars. At its peak, the kingdom of Agarst included present-day Demacia, the War College, and all of Noxus. 400 years ago, it was divided between two major city-states, Demacia and Noxus.