*CLANG*
*TING*
Lanius let out a fierce growl as he woke up, also waking up a startled Ahri, who was sleeping besides him. The fox also let out a growl and looked around before she froze in place. It was morning and the young man was directly looking at the soul that attacked him in his dream.
Supposedly Lanius had raised his arms in his sleep to protect himself from the entity in his dreams just as the one in the real word tried to stab him and had formed two ice gauntlets that held the blades by the tips.
The soul retracted and entered its host, a relatively tall young man that was also covered in bandages, white ones tho. What made Lanius clench his fists tighter was the fact that the other man was wearing a horned mask.
"A sword weilding Azakana?" Lanius said as he darted up.
"Im rather a man that hunts them...and it seems that I found one...." the stranger said as he pointed one of his swords towards Lanius.
Lanius looked confused for a second, before something clicked inside his head. He remembered Yasuo's warning to him. "Whispers in the wind speak of a masked man with two blades. He hunts demons...and you give of a feeling similar to them."
The young man's eyes widened as he soon realised what was happening.
"He can see Freida's aura and mistakes it as an Azakana..." he thought.
"Look masked man, I'm not what you hunt. I'm just a young traveller that wishes to reach the capital." Lanius tried to explain himself.
"Such bravado! But you're fooling no one." the stranger replied. "You may look young, yet your souls age is older. Not to mention the thing that you hide under those bandages on your face."
"He really isn't an Azakana, Yone!" Ahri tried to support the young man.
"Ahri...did he use your charms against you? Don't worry, you will be fine once I'm done with him." Yone said as he lunged at the Winter.
"So be it, hunter! I shall knock the truth into your head." Lanius exclaimed and also dashed forward.
The gauntlets and blades collided, sparks and ice powder flew everywhere. The two opponents began a new battle dance as they performed their own moves against each other, all while Ahri did not intervene.
"Ko'han!"
*CLANG*
"Shaaa!"
*TANG*
"Haaa!"
"Ushah!"
"You claim to not be a demon, yet you are filled with rage, pain, anger and despair." Yone exclaimed as he horizontally sliced at the young man.
"Can't say that I had time to mourn the lost...thus it built up and just stayed there." Lanius replied as he blocked the slice with his gauntlets. He then delivered an upright kick towards Yone.
Yone then dashed back five meters and leaned forward. "I will take no joy in cutting you down!" he said. Ahri realise what he was going to do. "Lanius, move out of -" she yelled for him, but it was too late.
Yone flung himself forward and slammed his right leg and blades on the young man, who raised his arms at the last moment and avoided getting sliced. He flew back and crashed into the ground with a loud yell of pain as the ice casts in his torso broke. Yone approached him and raised his blades, ready to strike down the Winter.
.
.
.
"No!" Ahri rushed in front of Lanius and stretched her arms in a protective manner. She couldn't let what allowed her to be normal again vanish...not again...not yet.
"Fox, move! You prevent me from ending the demon!" Yone ordered her.
"He is not a demon! He is just sharing his body with a spirit!" Ahri yelled at him, not daring to move away.
"A spirit?" Yone dropped his arms. He seemed confused.
Ahri felt her back cold and turned her head, seeing Lanius get up. "Do Azakana use cryomancy?" the young man wiped his forehead and walked towards them. His gauntlets had melted.
"And...why is the spirit not intervening now?" Yone asked, still slightly unconvinced.
"She's asleep..." Lanius muttered loud enough for the masked man to hear him.
"Cryomancy...a spirit host...perhaps...the Winter?" Yone asked as he sheathed his blades.
"Yes...the new Winter." Lanius said. "To who do I owe the favor of clashing with?"
"Just an unforgotten man behind a broken mask." Yone said. "My apologies for attacking you without listening. I thought that I fought so many Azakana that I could tell them apart."
"Don't worry about it." Lanius reassured him.
A strong wind then blew. "Farewell, Winter." Yone disappeared with the wind.
"Farewell...Unforgotten." Lanius said. Ahri then came closer to him.
Are you all right?" she asked him.
"Yeah...the cracked ribs healed overnight but the broken one will need another day." he said.
The fox exhaled and then took his hand. "Shall we continue?"
Lanius looked at her with a puzzled face, but nodded positively and stepped forward.
.
.
.
"At last, we've arrived." Lanius exclaimed.
The duo had reached the capital of Ionia, Ionia City and was now heading towards the council's Court. As they walked, Lanius revealed to Ahri his plans during their stay there. Aside from the you man's determination to unite the first lands for a retaliation war, Ahri knew nothing else.
"Let's start by finding an Inn to stay. After we settle, we can explore the capital and then return to the Inn for dinner. I plan on visiting the council tomorrow morning. I'll try to get them to support my movement." the young man explained as they passed through a market. Vastaya, yordle and humans flooded the place, selling and buying stuff, strolling around and chatting in Ionian and Demacian with bright smiles on their faces.
It looked as if the war had never happened, like they had moved on. Tho the Winter could easily read their feelings. He could see the pain and sorrow running through their veins. Their anger for the common enemy, Noxus, making their blood boil.
"This should suit us." Ahri muttered, pulling the hood on her head lower. Once they reached the city, she merged her tails into one - it was a simple illusion trick, as she told Lanius- and wore a white cloak with gold marks. Lanius didn't question her actions, as he was familiar with the myths behind his companion. They now stood in front of a relatively big building made out of wood and stone. Above its single wooden and had a sign that wrote Inn in Ionian. The duo entered and briefly looked around. The interior resembled a typical European Inn. They then walked up to the counter where an elderly human sat.
"Would you like a room?" he asked Lanius.
"A room and lunch." Lanius said.
The old man nodded and turned towards Ahri. "What about you, young lady?"
"We'll share the room..." she said.
"That won't be necessary." The old man said. "I got two free rooms."
"I insist." Ahri replied.
Lanius leaned towards her. "Don't you want some privacy?" he whispered.
"You don't have a lot of money...besides, it's all right...as long as you don't look on purpose." she said with a wink.
"Let's see...I have a room with two beds. How much nights?" the old man asked.
"We'll take it...we're not sure about the nights." Lanius replied.
The old man shrugged and gave them a set of keys, one for each and told them the position of it. "And try to keep the noise down at night...if you get what I mean..." he said with a smile.
Both the Winter and the fox let out a faint growl and rolled their eyes as they went up the stairs to the second floor.