Key Story (1) - Chapter 6
The day felt heavier than usual. Raxian walked with no real sense of direction, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets, eyes focused on the pavement in front of him. His mind wasn't on where he was going—it was caught in the endless loop of thoughts he couldn't shake.
Fayne.
He hadn't spoken to her since their fight, and the longer the silence stretched, the worse it felt. The guilt sat heavy in his chest, an uncomfortable weight that wouldn't leave no matter how much he tried to ignore it. He replayed the moment over and over, the sharp words he'd thrown at her, the way her face had fallen before she walked away.
"What's wrong with me?" he muttered under his breath, barely noticing the people passing him by on the street.
He knew he had messed up. Big time. But every time he thought about reaching out to Fayne, something in him seized up—fear, maybe. Fear that she wouldn't forgive him, fear that things would never go back to the way they were.
And maybe… maybe that was what scared him the most.
He stopped at the crosswalk, staring blankly at the red light, his mind elsewhere. He knew he couldn't avoid her forever, but facing her felt impossible. What would he even say? How could he fix something when he wasn't even sure how it had broken in the first place?
His hands tightened into fists inside his pockets. He needed to clear his head, to figure out what to do next, and sitting around drowning in guilt wasn't going to help.
That's when the memory of the girl from the park floated back to him—the one he'd met just a few days ago. Her calm presence, the way she hadn't pushed him but had somehow said exactly what he needed to hear. She had pulled him out of that spiral without even realizing it.
If anyone could help him make sense of this mess, maybe it was her.
The crosswalk light turned green, but Raxian didn't move at first. He stood there, wrestling with himself, before finally exhaling sharply and stepping forward.
"Maybe she'll be there again," he thought, his pace quickening. "Maybe she'll have the answers I need."
It wasn't much of a plan, but it was something. And right now, anything felt better than standing still.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raxian made his way to the park, retracing the steps from their first encounter as if he could somehow recreate the moment. The air had grown cooler with the late afternoon, and long shadows stretched across the pathways, softening the colors of the world around him. He stuffed his hands deeper into his pockets, feeling the bite of the crisp autumn breeze against his skin.
The park was quieter than it had been last time—just a few people walking their dogs or sitting idly on benches. He glanced around as he walked, scanning the familiar surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.
But she wasn't there. Not yet.
Raxian's jaw tightened as frustration bubbled beneath the surface. Maybe this whole idea was stupid. Maybe she wouldn't show up again. He was relying on chance, on some fleeting memory, to guide him, and it felt ridiculous. But still, he kept walking. He needed to see her again, needed to feel that same clarity she'd unknowingly given him last time. It had been the first time in days he hadn't felt completely lost.
He passed the same benches, the same trees, even pausing under the large tree where she'd sat, reading her book. It was empty now, the space where she'd been feeling like a ghost of the moment he was trying to recapture. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. He had no idea what he'd say to her, but he knew that seeing her again would somehow help him piece together his next step.
The longer he searched, the more his mind started to wander, circling back to Fayne. The weight of their fight felt heavier the more he thought about it. He couldn't push the memory of it away—her face as he yelled, the words he couldn't take back.
The guilt gnawed at him.
"What was I thinking?" he muttered under his breath, kicking at a stray pebble on the path. He wasn't ready to face her. He couldn't even figure out what had made him snap in the first place. All he knew was that he'd hurt her, and the longer he stayed silent, the worse it got.
His steps slowed as the realization settled in: he was stalling. Looking for the girl, hoping she'd somehow fix things for him, was just another way to avoid the real issue.
But even knowing that didn't stop him from wanting to find her. He wasn't ready to face Fayne—not yet. Maybe if he could just talk to the girl from the park, things would start to make sense again.
Raxian stopped under the tree, staring at the empty bench. The late afternoon sun cast long, soft shadows over the ground, the golden light painting the park in muted colors. For a moment, everything felt still, like the world was holding its breath.
But she wasn't here.
He exhaled sharply, a mix of frustration and resignation flooding through him. Maybe she wasn't coming. Maybe she was just a fleeting moment he couldn't hold onto.
"Great," he muttered, his hands still clenched in his pockets. "Just great."
He stood there for a few more moments, unwilling to move, as if the longer he waited, the more likely she'd appear. But the park remained empty, save for the quiet rustling of leaves and the distant bark of a dog.
After a while, he turned away, starting the walk back. His mind was still a mess, the guilt over Fayne gnawing at him harder now, but for some reason, he felt the smallest flicker of clarity.
He didn't know why, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd see the girl again—just not here.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, school passed in a blur for Raxian. He moved through his classes without much focus, going through the motions. His mind, as usual, was elsewhere—constantly circling back to Fayne, the fruitless search at the park, and the gnawing guilt that still clung to him after their fight.
During a break, he wandered aimlessly through the hallway, his backpack hanging loosely from one shoulder, the steady murmur of conversation and footsteps around him barely registering. He wasn't paying attention, tangled in his thoughts, when it happened—he turned a corner and collided with someone.
He stumbled back, his hands instinctively reaching out to steady the person in front of him. "Oh, sorry—"
The apology stuck in his throat as soon as he looked up.
It was her.
The girl from the park.
For a second, everything stilled. Raxian blinked, his mind scrambling to catch up with what he was seeing. There was no mistaking it, though something felt different this time. Her dark hair, still streaked with those subtle blue hues, was pulled back into a neat ponytail. She wore a school uniform, looking more composed and reserved than the casual, laid-back figure he'd met at the park.
But her eyes—those green eyes—and her calm presence remained unchanged. He'd recognize her anywhere.
She looked up at him, and for a moment, their eyes met. Her expression was steady, familiar. There was no surprise in her gaze, only a quiet acknowledgment, as if this was a completely natural encounter for her.
"Well, hey," she said, her voice unhurried and smooth. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Didn't expect to bump into you here."
Raxian blinked again, still trying to process it. The girl he'd been searching for, the one whose words had helped him more than he realized, was right in front of him. At school, of all places. "You… go here?" The question slipped out awkwardly before he could think it through.
"Yeah," she replied with a casual shrug, as if it were obvious. "Guess we just don't cross paths much."
Raxian felt his mind struggling to align the two versions of her in his head—the one who had offered him calm advice in the park and the composed student standing in front of him now. The contrast almost threw him off balance, but it was still her. There was no question.
She studied him for a moment, her gaze softening slightly. "You seem like you've still got a lot on your mind."
Raxian let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. She had this way of cutting right through the surface, seeing past what was on the outside without even needing to ask. Not probing, but simply... knowing.
"Yeah," he admitted, his voice quieter this time. "It's been… a lot."
Her smile grew just a little, her eyes reflecting a quiet understanding. "Still trying to figure things out?"
Raxian nodded, rubbing the back of his neck, feeling the familiar awkwardness that always seemed to settle in when he was around her. "Yeah… something like that."
They stood there for a moment, neither of them rushing to fill the silence. It was strange—how comfortable the quiet could be between them. As if it wasn't necessary to say much for her to understand.
"Well, good luck with that," she said, her tone light but sincere. She gave him a small wave, starting to walk away. "Maybe we'll run into each other again."
Raxian hesitated, something gnawing at him. Before she could disappear into the crowd, he blurted out, "Wait… what's your name?"
She paused, glancing back over her shoulder. Their eyes met again, and this time, there was something in her gaze—calm, but sharp, like she already knew the question was coming.
"Sable."
The name hit him like a jolt, his thoughts coming to a screeching halt. Sable. His mind raced back to the whispers, the rumors that had been circulating through the school for days. The League prodigy. The one who had supposedly already hit Master rank, surpassing everyone at their level.
He stood there, frozen, his mind spinning. This girl—the one he'd been searching for, the one whose advice had helped him see things more clearly—was her. The very person who'd been gnawing at his pride, the one he'd been mentally preparing himself to face as a rival.
For a moment, he felt a flare of something—disbelief, maybe even irritation. How could this be her? The girl he'd met at the park had seemed so… calm, so unassuming. She wasn't supposed to be the same person he'd been hearing about, the one who was supposedly tearing through the ranks faster than anyone else.
He barely noticed the half-smile that tugged at the corner of her lips. Sable didn't seem to realize—or maybe she did—the impact her name had on him. She was still just standing there, casual, as if this was all perfectly normal.
Raxian's chest tightened. His thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions—admiration, sure, but also something else. A flicker of irritation, just like when he'd first heard the rumors. His pride flared. She's the one?
Sable raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for him to say something. But he was still processing, still trying to reconcile the girl from the park with the League prodigy who had been eating at his ego for days.
"I'm... Raxian," he finally managed, though his voice sounded far less composed than he'd intended. His golden eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to figure her out all over again.
Sable's expression didn't change much, though there was a subtle glint of amusement in her eyes. "Nice to officially meet you, Raxian," she said smoothly, turning to leave as if nothing monumental had just been revealed.
But for Raxian, it was.
He stood there, watching her disappear into the crowd, his mind still buzzing. Everything felt more complicated now. The girl who had helped him sort through his thoughts was also the very player he'd been unconsciously measuring himself against. The competition he hadn't seen coming.
His chest tightened again, but this time, it wasn't just irritation. It was something more complicated—a mix of admiration, curiosity, and the spark of rivalry that had been there from the start.
Master rank, he thought. Of course, she's already there.
He couldn't help but smirk, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. His competitive streak was alive and well, and now that he knew who she was, the game had changed. He wasn't just grateful for her help anymore. There was something else driving him now.
As he turned to head to his next class, he felt a mix of determination and a new sense of purpose. Sable wasn't just a casual acquaintance anymore. She was someone he would have to face—not just in life, but in the game.
And for the first time in days, he felt ready for it.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Raxian barely remembered the walk home. The entire encounter with Sable had felt surreal. Her name, the one that had been buzzing around school and haunting him for days, was now more than a rumor. Sable was real, and she had stood in front of him like it was nothing. But something had shifted in him since that moment. He couldn't stop thinking about it. Her calmness. Her presence. She wasn't just some prodigy in the distance anymore—she was real, and she had sparked something in him.
Raxian tossed his backpack onto his chair as soon as he got home, heading straight for his desk. His hand hovered over the mouse for a moment, his mind flickering back to AkarisLite. The last time they had met, it hadn't gone well. The memory gnawed at him, but instead of feeling the weight of defeat, something felt different this time. There was a challenge in front of him—a spark.
Sable had ignited it, and now he was ready.
He booted up his computer, the League of Legends client flashing onto the screen. His rank: halfway through Emerald 2. Not quite Diamond yet, but close enough. He took a deep breath, the determination filling him as he clicked "Queue."
Raxian's fingers moved with a new precision as he queued game after game. His Ekko wasn't just a tool to win—he was using the champion in ways he hadn't before. More controlled. More calculated. His movements were sharp, but he wasn't playing like he had something to prove to himself. This time, he trusted his team. He called for help when needed, pinged for objectives, and worked with his teammates rather than trying to carry the entire game alone.
The victories started stacking up. LP climbed steadily, each game pushing him closer to Diamond. The pressure built, but unlike before, Raxian was ready for it. He could feel the momentum growing.
Finally, after several hard-fought battles, he saw it: Emerald I, 99 LP.
"So close," he muttered, leaning back in his chair. The number seemed to mock him, just one point away from the promotion series. Riot's messing with me, he thought, frustration creeping in. But instead of letting it simmer, it fueled him. He wasn't done yet. He clicked "Queue" without hesitation.
One more win, and Diamond was within reach.
The loading screen flashed before him, and his eyes immediately scanned the enemy team. His heart skipped a beat when he saw it: AkarisLite. The same username. His breath caught in his throat as déjà vu rushed over him.
The last time he faced AkarisLite, they had crushed him, making him doubt himself and his abilities. Not this time. But something was different—AkarisLite wasn't playing Fizz. This time, they had locked in Akali.
Raxian frowned slightly. Akali? There's no way they're as good at Akali as they were with Fizz, right? His jaw clenched. It didn't matter. He couldn't afford to make the same mistake as before—playing reckless, thinking he could handle it on his own.
The game loaded, and from the moment they stepped onto the Rift, Raxian felt the tension building. He was ready, and this time, his approach was different. He leaned into his team's strengths, making calls and staying sharp. AkarisLite's Akali was just as dangerous, diving into fights with surgical precision. But this time, Raxian didn't try to outplay them alone. Instead, he called for backup, coordinating with his team, keeping vision around key objectives.
Every trade was a test of patience. Every teamfight required careful coordination. Bit by bit, Raxian and his team chipped away at Akali's lead, using teamwork to outsmart her. When the final fight broke out at Baron, Raxian waited—watching as Akali dove in, ready to eliminate their carry.
That was when Raxian struck. Ekko's ultimate ripped through the enemy backline, flipping the fight in their favor. His team collapsed on Akali, taking down AkarisLite in the chaos. The enemy Nexus fell soon after.
Victory.
Raxian stared at the screen, his heart pounding. This wasn't luck. This wasn't overconfidence. This was earned.
He leaned back in his chair, taking a deep breath as the adrenaline rush began to fade. This win felt different. It wasn't just about the rank—it was about the way he had won. He hadn't let his ego get in the way this time. He hadn't tried to go it alone. He had trusted his team, played smart, and outplayed AkarisLite with strategy rather than raw skill.
And now, he was finally on the cusp of Diamond 4.
But even as the victory settled in, Raxian couldn't shake the thought of AkarisLite. Even though he had won, it hadn't been easy. AkarisLite had pushed him harder than anyone else had, forcing him to rethink his entire approach. There was respect there now. They had become more than just an opponent—they were a rival.
Raxian smirked to himself. I'm coming for you, he thought. But this time, it wasn't out of irritation. This was something more like respect.
And then, there was Sable.
Her calm demeanor, her quiet influence. It all began to click together. She had unknowingly pushed him to be better, and in doing so, she had ignited something within him. This wasn't the end. This was only the beginning.
Before he could close out of the client, Raxian grabbed his phone and shot a quick text to Raze.
Raxian:
Diamond, finally.
He added a smirking emoji.
A moment later, his phone buzzed.
Raze:
No way! Welcome to the club, man. Glad to see you finally made it!
Raxian chuckled. Raze had been in Diamond for a while, but it felt good to be on equal footing again.
Raze:
Nice to see you back in the game. Let's queue soon. Time to start grinding for higher ranks.
Raxian's fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before typing back.
Raxian:
Definitely. Ready for the next climb.
He hit send, feeling a surge of energy.
Raxian was about to log off when a new message popped up on his screen. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the name: AkarisLite.
He hesitated for a moment before clicking the notification. The knot in his stomach tightened. What now?
AkarisLite:
Nice win. You're finally getting the hang of it.
Raxian stared at the message, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. There was something different about this—less condescending, but still with a sharp edge. A challenge.
He smirked and typed back:
Raxian:
You weren't holding back, were you?
A few seconds later, the reply came through:
AkarisLite:
Wouldn't be fun if I did. Keep climbing. Maybe we'll see each other again soon.
Raxian leaned back, a strange mix of satisfaction and excitement swirling inside him. This wasn't over—not by a long shot. And now, he wasn't just playing to climb the ranks—he was playing to face them again.
Next time? He thought, his smirk growing. I'll be ready.
Raxian's climb to Diamond marked the beginning of something new. His rivalry with AkarisLite had deepened, not just in-game but in the way they had pushed him to grow. And with Sable's influence still fresh in his mind, Raxian knew this was far from over.
The journey ahead—both in life and in the game—was going to be tough. But for the first time in a long while, he felt ready for it.