Chapter 47: First Steps
"It is my burden to carry an eye of god. It is my privilege to see the truth."~ Illaoi, Dodge E or Dodge Game
I don't like Illaoi. And I'm having fun giving them new titles. (I think this is better than Kraken Priestess.)
And yes. With this chapter, I set up Arcane S1 as well. With the timelines being completely out of consideration by the end of Arcane S2, its easier to take creative liberty.
Expect Arcane S2 somewhere down the line.
Also wait till the chapter names are alliterations starting with M. It goes crazy.
P.S. Remember when I said that I will drop 5 chapters for the New year?... Yeah you will get it as soon as I finish them. That means you will get it earlier. :D
P.P.S. I haven't been adding pictures. My bad. I'll add them soon.
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"Upped the security in recent years?" Gregori asked as the both of them were led by the guards to the entrance of the gates.
The leading soldier just grunted in reply and the second one shrugged.
"You lot are here very late in our shift. The sun will rise soon and we will head home. That's what we have done every time. If one of you has a dubious identity then our shifts will be longer. That's why I pray for your sakes as well as ours that you can back up your identity." The second man replied.
Katarina just followed them in silence.
"You haven't answered my question?" Gregori prodded.
With a sigh the second man replied, "Yes. Security's been increased heavily since the formation of The Trifarix. You haven't come here in some years I suppose?"
"Aye." Gregori nodded. "What is that monstrosity there? Seems to be a little to brightly colored for our taste?" He asked, as he pointed toward the large tower under construction.
It seemed wrongly placed considering its surroundings. Instead of the standard Noxian black-gray and red it was white and a sharp blue.
Also saying 'our taste' was a simple redirection. With a single word, he had showed his association to Noxus as a Noxian. His old skills of gathering information often started with making them drop their guard. To the guards, he was one of them. It would be easier to get in.
The man chuckled, "It looks horrendous no? But its some joint development between Noxus and Piltover. The Medarda's are funding it. Some great leaps in relationships between the two nations is the reasoning."
"Medarda is funding it? Ambessa? A bit far from their area of influence isn't it?" Gregori asked, "What does it do?"
"That's a lot of questions. I don't know what it does. And I don't know why its being built here. What do I look like? The fucking grand general? I know fuck all about what's happening here. They pay me to guard the gates and my responsibility ends there." The man snapped back. The amount of questions irking him.
"Ah, I'm sorry about that..... Its just... haaaa... Its been so long since I've been back and I am a little bit excited to be home again." Gregori tried to defuse the situation. And he wasn't lying as he said those words. He was excited to be back. He was shivering with excitement.
He didn't know why but his body was thrumming with both excitement and power.
Gregori was looking forward to what curious incidents would take place with him here.
They arrived at the gates, where the first guard knocked on the side and called, "Identity verification for two."
A few seconds later, a flap opened on the side of the gate, out of which a pair of eyes peeked through, "State your name and purpose."
Gregori moved to respond but Katarina overtook him, "Katarina Du Coteau. Daughter of the Du Coteau family."
The eyes widened, "My lady! Open the gates! Let her in!" The woman on the other end exclaimed.
The gates opened and Katrina walked through.
Gregori made to follow her but a couple spears in his way stopped him from following. Katarina turned and gave him a wink and a wave.
"You need to verify your identity as well. Solo travelers are always checked, it doesn't matter if you have come with Lady Du Coteau."
"That is fine my friend." Gregori spoke to them his arm up in a placating manner.
Shifting his eyes to Katarina's rapidly disappearing back, "Tell your brother to come to the same place we had first met at roughly the same time." He called before turning back to the woman. "I suppose its my turn now?"
She nodded.
He moved closer to her but was stopped by the guards. "No closer." Came a warning.
"Oh I have no intent to harm her. My identity is quite sensitive. I'll just whisper it in her ears softly." Gregori reassured them.
The woman's eyes widened further and she gestured to let him come closer.
He bent down to her ears and whispered, "Destiny. Domination. Deceit."
She stumbled back and made eye contact with him. Shivering as she saw his smile. "M...M..My Lord... I.... We.... We apologize for our transgressions... You...a... are free to go sir."
"Don't be alerting anyone about this young lady. If anyone finds out..... Well I would know who babbled then wouldn't I?"
With the threat hanging in the air, he stepped back and gave the confused guards a smile. "Thank you good men but it seems I have been given explicit permission to head inside. You are doing good work."
His eyes fell upon the buildings and the numerous small fires on bowls lighting up the place. The architecture sharp and unfriendly. Banners unfurled across buildings, all sporting Noxian imagery. The capital ran on patriotism. Patriotism from the commoners.
Things had not changed much. The buildings he had seen nearly a decade ago still stood strong. Its occupants may have changed but the places still remained. The same almshouse in the same corner. The same shops in the same locations.
His first steps into the Bastion was cathartic.
It oddly felt like a sort of homecoming. Not that he had any love for this place..... but he had met Amoline here and that had been one of the most enjoyable periods of time.
The claustrophobic streets were like a walk through time. He reminisced all the times Amoline had dragged him through these very streets. Every large building with crenellated roofs, built for defending from an invasion but used by them as private hideaways.
He had acted his age during those days. Enjoying an innocence he never got to experience when he was younger. Amoline had gotten that out of him. He was never guarded in front of her. She was completely harmless to him and he was just as harmless to her.
Those few moments were when he had truly let all his burdens go and just lived.
Truly lived.
Now, his daughter was here. Just like how her mother was once. Just like how he was once. A return to one's roots. Not the way he would have liked it but it would be fine.
Everything would be fine once his daughter was in his arms.
That was all the mattered now.
He would have preferred for a better reason to be here or bring her here, but this return had more a questionable reasoning behind it. Questionable for the countless Noxians.
He had even managed to send a message to Talon Du Coteau. Funny how the world decided to give him a hand at this moment.
Quite opportune.
He didn't need to actively search for the man. And that would have been a problem.
As long as the Faceless were involved, it would be impossible to find someone without alerting a third interested party.
From that point on, it would become bloody.
Noxus stood for many things but Gregori knew its true nature. The land of the greedy. Unlimited greed and gluttony.
If they saw something they did not possess, they would get it. By hook or by crook. All ways were justified as long as they came to possess what they wanted.
But Katarina helped him out on that front. Now the only thing that he needed to do, was to wait till the day of the meeting. And the seeds he had sown in her mind would work against Noxus. If she decided to change, then that would be another blow to Noxus.
Not to mention his plans for Mallat.
Wiping out a whole noble family was going to be a little difficult... no it was going to be very difficult but he was prepared for it.
A little more on the thought provoking side was the tower being constructed outside. Now what would the City of Progress need collaborating with the Medarda?
And why the Medarda?
A warmongering family with lady war herself at the helm.
Her actions had gotten worse since the death of her son. She was a bloodthirsty bastard. Had an annoying set of morals too.
What business did they have forming relations with other nations? Not to mention Piltover had its own set of problems. He had gone there once and left the place within three days.
Piltover with its uppity bastards and Zaun with its populace drugged up to the eyes.
A disgrace.
Both places with cultures so despicable that it hurt him physically to stay there any longer.
That didn't mean that their structures were unenjoyable..... Those were very beautiful in both places, very artistic. Its just that their people were not the best.
But just like how Noxus exemplified its nobility, Piltover did it to an even bigger scale. If you weren't a noble or someone with near inhuman capabilities in research you wouldn't even get a chance to speak your mind.
Still, he didn't like it.
A random unknown factor that could affect him.
If the Medarda were building something here, it would only make sense for Ambessa to be here. And that was a problem.
She could recognize him. She might not. But the chances were still there.
Not as The Gray. But as something else.
If she recognized him, then the others would be alerted. Then his plans could fall apart.
Turning his head, he spotted the star.
Annie's star.
Right above him.
He was there now.
If everything went as expected, he would have his daughter with him by the end of the month at the latest.
But knowing Noxus, he expected things to go pear shaped any moment.
He made up his mind.
Two months maximum.
That was how long he would be willing to take it easy.
With a small shake of his head, he walked to a certain inn. Hoping that the lady at the gates he left behind wouldn't be letting go of crucial information. It wouldn't do anyone good to know that a Hastur is back now would it?