Chapter I

It was another amazing day at the Institute of War. The Institute's courtyard is bustling, the skies are blue, the grass is green, and the champions are taking a break when they are not in matches. The veranda is beautiful. Flowers and vines lined the stone columns supporting the wooden lattice roof. The koi pond marked the back of the courtyard and the water fountain sculpted by Galio stood right in middle, spewing out the water and at the same time magically purifying it.

Everything was a picturesque image. Lush trees surrounding the courtyard, the birds were singing in a melodious tune along with Sona and her etwahl. It would seem that everything was in harmony and balance, almost forgetting the whole reason of the conception of the League of Legends.

Belen walked in the corridor leading to the Grand Hall where the champions dined at, grabbing a bite in between matches, chatting with their fellow champions or just simply killing the time. Trying to straighten his messy brown hair and his new white robes lined with green trim signifying of his new rank, his bright blue eyes sparkled with mischief as he pushed open the doors to the Grand Hall.

It has already been two years since he had initiated in the League of Legends as a summoner and now he was recently promoted to the Platinum Division after a long and grueling battle against Zaun while he was representing the city of Piltover.

After losing both of his parents due to the invasion of Ionia by Noxus when he was just nine years old, Belen was one of the few hundreds of children that were orphaned by the tragedy. Thankfully, he was taken in by a kind old lady who had fed and raised him like her own, who had sheltered and loved him from the bottom of her heart.

Growing up, she had taught him everything she knew back in her old days as a sorceress but only if he promised never to use magic for evil, revenge or for his own selfish purposes. He was bitter at first about his parents and all the international conflicts and those that had suffered because of it, but he soon came to realise that true peace wouldn't simply just float along and it had to be pursued and fought for.

That was when he had decided to join the League of Legends. He had sworn that he was going to be the bond that brings everybody together, no matter where they are from or what they were before. That was his dream.

He knew that the road was tough, tedious and of course setbacks were everywhere. From petty squabbles, personal vendettas and corruption to international conflicts, you name it.

His cheerful attitude had opened up many of the champions' closed hearts, coaxing them out of the shell that they have hidden themselves within. It didn't always go smoothly with them but he slowly began to grew on them, irate scowls eventually became slight smirks when he had cracked an obnoxious joke. The walls that they had built around themselves to shut others out came crumbling down when they had saw the sincerity of his true intentions.

He had come a long way since then, Fiora taught him fencing and asserted herself as his teacher. Riven was so overwhelmed with emotions that she choked up when he had secured an Ionian citizenship for her after she had been exiled from Noxus. Jayce, Ezreal and Yasuo were his best friends and hell, he was even an exclusive member of Annie's stuffed toy tea party. Soon after when Gnar was defrosted from that block of ice, those two were practically inseparable.

Belen grinned, he had to do something to thank Gnar for the last promotion match to the Platinum Division. The little guy really shined when he tried his best to rein his anger in order not to slip into Mega Gnar so that Belen could catch up to Lucian for the final blow and the eventual victory.

The Grand Hall had never ceased to amaze him every time he steps into it. Rows and rows of long wooden tables and benches lined the room and a massive elegant chandelier hung from above, illuminating the entire hall.

The Hall was much less to say, packed. Jarvan and Garen were laughing at Xin Zhao's first night out with them at the bar. Xin Zhao, not being able to hold his liquor soon ended up being wasted and turned into an incoherent mess, spewing nonsense and almost provoking other patrons in the bar to a fight. Their teasing left him frowning while picking at his food. Lux waved ecstatically with a toothy grin which Belen smiled and waved back.

He turned back to the front only to find Swain mysteriously appearing in front of him. "Congratulations Summoner Belen for your promotion to the Platinum Division earlier." He greeted with a gruff voice.

"Whoa! General Swain? Where did you come from?"

"Oh? I simply walked up to you like everyone does. There is nothing illicit about that, is there?" A wicked smile plastered on his wrinkled face.

"Oh of course not! I'm just - um - caught off guard for a second there, that's all." Belen chuckled nervously.

"So about that proposal of the allegiance with Noxus, you are considering it thoroughly, I presume?"

"W-Well yeah! I've been thinking really hard about it. It's - uh - looking really good with the beneficiary assets and all." He had hoped to avoid this confrontation for as long as he could.

Swain placed his arms behind his back in mild contentment, cane clutched tightly in his bony shriveled fingers. "Yes. It is indeed very advantageous to you and it would only be more so if you would honor us with your fealty. You are a smart man, Belen. Perceptive, astute and witty, you remind me alot of myself when I was of a more, tender age." He chuckled softly.

"That is exactly is why I just had to extend an invitation to you, a gentleman of our own kind, talented and bold. It is as they say: "Birds of a feather, flock together." I strongly believe you know which is the ideal choice and I expect you to make it, with haste, of course. I bid you farewell, Summoner.

Good luck."

He turned around and limped away with that signature harsh expression that he is renowned for with Beatrice cawing viciously back at Belen.

'Stupid bird...' He never liked that raven, Valor was more fun to be with anyway.

Sighing, he made his way to the table where the Ionians were having lunch and plopped down on the long bench, sitting right next to Akali.

"That old bird pestering you about politics again?" Wukong asked while chewing on a banana.

"Yup, sounds about right." Belen shrugged while stealing a fry from Akali's plate to which she pouted cutely.

"Summoner Belen, you should to take a neutral stand like us and maintain balance, try not interfere with affairs and do not take sides." Shen advised thoughtfully.

"Well, that is why I am sitting at your table, aren't I?"

"And do know that you would always be welcome to join us." Shen offered tactly.

"So how are things looking in Ionia?" Belen smiled, pilfering yet another fry.

"The Triumvirate have been participating in diplomatic meetings with Noxus regarding the occupation of the Ionian provinces. Shon-Xan has been reclaimed back through the Institute of War, by your courtesy, of course.

However, Galrin and Navori still remain under the Noxian rule by right. That is of no significance but the Noxian forces were less than - courteous to our fellow Ionians. The provinces are in a state of turmoil, civil unrest heightens as the people live in fear everyday.

Men were being taken in by the falsity of simple questioning and only to be never seen again. Women are taken discreetly from homes when their husbands are away and thrown from soldier to soldier for their perverse pleasure like a pack of wolves. Children weren't spared either as the boys were put to work like mules and the girls learn etiquette and discipline until when they came of age, they were sold to the brothel hous-"

"Shen. Enough. I believe Belen has enough on his plate at the moment with the Institute of War, he doesn't need to bear any more burdens from Ionia than he already has on his back. He is probably tired from his matches, we should let him-" Akali tried to step in.

"No. Akali. That's not true. Ionia is your home as much as it is mine. I'll do whatever it takes to fight on for our home, all I can say is that I'm glad that I have you guys at my side as we do it together. As far as peace talks goes, I will speak to General Swain if it does help with the situation back in Navori and Galrin. I think he could do something about his own troops if not anything at all."

"Thank you very much, Belen." Akali lowered her head slightly with a soft smile.

"It's nothing, really. Alright, I'm going to get some food, be right back!" Belen chirped as he took his leave from the table.

"Belen, would you mind fetching me a cup of tea?" Karma asked politely.

"Of course, anything for you dear." He replied smoothly with a wink to which she rolled her eyes in amusement.

He strode over to the front of the Grand Hall to see what was prepared for breakfast, giving Syndra and Lissandra a wide grin as he passed by them to which they curtly smiled and nodded back. Many various dishes of both Noxian cuisine and Ionian delicacies neatly piled on silver platters, coffee and teapots neatly placed next to the mugs and plates.

He took a teacup and saucer and carefully filled up the cup with Karma's favourite jasmine tea.

"Good morning Belen, how are your matches?" LeBlanc smiled cheekily and poked him hard in the waist causing him jerk away, spilling the tea on the table.

"Jeez, Evaine, look at what you did." Belen whined in irritation.

She cupped his mouth and whispered harshly in his ear. "Shhh! Why not just shout my name out the next time! I've told you I'm undercover, my name is now Emilia."

"Whatever, you will always be Evaine to me."

"And you will always be Belle to me." She stuck out her tongue childishly.

"Who even changes their name to something so similar anyway? Come on, you are not going to fool anyone, Evaine and Emilia practically has no difference at all! I'm actually quite surprised that you haven't been found out yet!"

"Ugh. You're so annoying." LeBlanc pinched his cheek teasingly causing him to yelp.

"Ow! That actually hurt..."

"Awww... What a crybaby, do you want me to buy you a lollipop to make you feel better?" She waved her hand over the tea stain, magically cleansing the table cloth with a mock smile.

"I can't believe it has been ten years and you never changed a single bit." Belen muttered.

"Old habits die hard I guess." Leblanc shrugged.

It was then when she decided to stop running away from it, she looked into his eyes with remorse and decided to bring it up.

"So... How is Grandma?"

Belen was shocked that she had suddenly brought up the past, she wasn't one to lament about the past nor did she want to think about it. It was a dark day and it had devastated everyone but the one that had suffered the most was probably Evaine herself.

Evaine was also an orphan that Grandma had adopted before Belen was. Grandma was sleeping soundly when she had heard a sudden noise coming from the kitchen, rousing her from her sleep. She had long readied a scorching orb of flame in her hand, to illuminate her way through the house without turning the lights so as not to alert the possible burglar, also eager to incinerate the poor soul that had the guts to break into her house.

It was then when she had snuck up before said poor soul that was about to feel her wrath when she had found a twinkling set of golden amber eyes staring back at her with engorged cheeks resembling a chipmunk, stuffed with her signature meatloaf.

Grandma had a once-over of the frail figure standing in at the side of the dining table caught red-handed in the dim light of her spell. Her shoulder-length raven hair was mussed up and and the light complexion of her face was smudged with blackened dirt, thin chaffed lips were dotted with crumbs of the food that she had been ravenously devouring. A ragged shirt, barely able to cling on to her skeletal figure, was accompanied with a pair of brown shorts and her dirty bare feet were quivering at the possible consequences.

Most importantly, her radiant amber eyes were mesmerised by the orb of fire that was in sitting in the middle of Grandma's bony palm and Grandma immediately recognized that right away. To the common eye, they would have just see a street urchin, probably one of the many that was orphaned by war. But in the eyes of Grandma, all she sees is a poor desperate lonely girl in need of love, doing what it needs to be done in order to survive day by day... with an affinity for the gift of magic.

She fueled more mana into the blazing sphere of fire, burning it brighter to catch the attention of the thief and beckoning her closer. She smiled kindly and gestured towards the half-eaten meatloaf. "Is it delicious?"

The dishevelled girl looked taken aback, having half-expecting to be either chased off or beaten up or perhaps both. She swallowed the chewed-up bit in her mouth tentatively and nodded eagerly out of both honesty and fear.

"Then go on, eat up to your heart's content." She once again gestured to the plate of leftovers on the table.

The little girl looked even more shocked than before, no one had ever showed her such kindness before. This has got to be a vile trick, her tiny heart raced with anticipation. Why would any sane person offer food to someone who had broken into their house just moments ago? The minute that she would touch the food again, the old lady would definitely attack her for her outright audacity, she knew it.

Shaking her head slowly, she slinkered back and poised to make a break for it through the back door where she had came from but just before she could do so.

"I know you are hungry, you probably haven't eaten all day." The old lady insisted. As if on cue, her little stomach growled loudly and her cheeks lit up in embarassment.

"I won't hurt you. I promise." She slowly let the orb of flame dissipate in assurance and the candles in the chandelier hanging in the center of the kitchen suddenly flickered to life, all this time the curious thief was watching in amazement.

Grandma lifted the plate from the table and presented it to her with both hands.

"Take it."

Seeing that the old lady truly meant no harm to her and her act is out of genuine goodwill, she took the plate from the old lady cautiously, her feeble arms almost crumbling under the heavy plate.

She looked up at Grandma one last time, the same golden amber eyes pleading for a final assurance and confirmation.

The old lady nodded with finality.

That was all it took for her to cave in, voraciously digging into the delicious meatloaf with great gusto. She shut her eyes tightly and shovelled the food rapidly at ungodly speeds into her mouth, feeding her unsatiable hunger and the long-term starvation.

Grandma couldn't help the smile stretching across her face, the 'burglar' that she had initially expected was actually just a starving girl.

It didn't take long until the malnourished girl was finally done with her meal which she burped sheepishly at the end of it. There was just dead silence in the air other than the light crackling of the candles illuminating the kitchen until she had finally spoke up.

"H-How did you d-do that?" She stared inquisitively.

"Do what?" The old lady replied in question.

"The fireball t-thing..." The little girl mumbled.

Grandma knew it, she was unmistakably interested. There was no denying it, the tiny spark that she had in her eyes when she had saw the orb of flame. With patience and guidance, that very spark can be ignited into a great and vibrant flame, shining with ferocity. She just had to play along for now.

Once again conjuring the floating ball of flame in her palm. "You mean this?"

There it was, the same spark evidently reflected in her eyes right now.

"Y-Yes." Her golden amber eyes once again fixated on it, spellbound.

The orb of fire immediately vanished as fast as it had appeared, breaking her out of her trance and drawing back her attention.

"Would you like to know?" She taunted the little girl.

This time, her voice was laced with confidence and courage.

"Yes."

"Then come with me." Grandma reached out her hand to the little thief.

"Where are we going?" The girl tilted her head in confusion and placed her tiny hand in the old lady's.

"Upstairs, to get you cleaned up and prepared for bedtime. We are starting first thing in the morning tomorrow, after breakfast, of course." The old lady replied, already leading the little girl towards the stairs.

As they were climbing the steps, till this day Grandma never knew, but a single tear spilled from the pool of an amber eye and made its way down the cheek of the little thief, quickly vanishing as fast as it had appeared.

He sighed, thinking that the painful past would hopefully remain buried but somehow he knew that it would be impossible as everyone had already been through so much to simply ignore it.

"Oh Evaine... she doesn't exactly show it but she misses you alot, I can tell."

"I miss Grandma too, if it weren't for her, I'll probably be dead in a gutter in Noxus." Her eyes turning misty, reminiscing of her past. "I can't afford to take that risk, you know that! If the enemies of the Black Rose ever found out about Grandma, I can never forgive myself." She muttered with a choked voice.

He looked away and spoke in a low voice. "Then why did you join the Black Rose? Grandma taught you everything she knew, she was shattered when you left home."

"I have to do something about Noxus! You saw it, you know it. People being killed every single day, orphans starving-" Evaine cried.

"I know Evaine… I know… J-Just come back safe and sound okay?" He pulled her into a light hug, stroking her raven tresses consolingly.

"I promise." She hugged him tighter.

"Good! Because even if you did not, I'll chase you down till the ends of Valoran, just to bring you back and end you myself, you got it?" He lectured whimsically with his hands on his hips."

"Then I guess it's best that I make it back, huh?" She whispered with a honeyed smile.

"You better. I'll see you later alright? I have to get back to Karma, her tea is getting cold."

"Karma? Wow, changing targets so fast? Whatever happened to Sarah Fortune?" LeBlanc teased with a sly smile.

"Not so loud!" Belen slapped his palm around her mouth and darting his eyes around the vicinity before releasing her.

"I-I got n-no idea what you are talking about." Belen blushed furiously and stammered.

"Oh... Someone has it bad for her!" LeBlanc laughed with a coy smile.

"No I don't!"

"Well then, I suppose I should go introduce Summoner Harmonia to her. He seems fairly interested in her. Ciao." LeBlanc walked off with a wicked smile.

LeBlanc swore she saw a flash of white and green appearing before her.

"Don't you dare." Belen narrowed his eyes in malice before clearing his throat. "Ahem, so…. You were saying that Harmonia likes her?"

"Hahaha! Gotcha!" LeBlanc clutched her waist and laughed loudly, earning judgemental looks from Talon and Quinn standing beside them, Belen having to forcing a smile and waving it off.

"Alright. Alright. Maybe I like her, a little…" Belen looked away with reddened cheeks.

"So are you going to tell her?"

"What? No!" He exclaimed loudly.

"Why not?" LeBlanc raised her eyebrow.

"I don't know! It's awkward!"

"Well then you should, you are not going to stare at her from a distance forever, are you?"

"Well I was planning to-"

"Belen! Everyone in the League likes you! Brand willingly lets you summon him without any resistance and he likes you! Well... I mean, you are the only one that he doesn't actually hate. How does that even happen to anyone else? Before you came along, I thought it was mortally impossible." She huffed.

"Hey, Brand is actually pretty cool... At least, he is, after you get used to his destructive tendencies... " Belen mumbled.

"Well? What about Syndra? She murdered everyone she knew before and she didn't so much as hit you with a dark sphere. And those hurt like hell." She winced, recalling the times when she was against Syndra in the Summoner's Rift.

"That's because everyone is afraid of her! She is actually pretty sweet when she doesn't put up a strong front like she does in front of everybody, she's very insecure about herself. She's really fragile, which is why she broke down when she had found out her master had sealed her arcane prowess, she felt that he had betrayed her trust." He mumbled in pity.

"And Zyra? Don't tell me-" LeBlanc muttered.

"Well I take gardening lessons from her! Who else is going to maintain Grandma's flowers?" He snapped at her.

"Argh. I give up. That's not the point, grow a pair, and go talk to her. Or I'll do it. Your choice." She crossed her arms, fuming.

"Okay. I'll do it. Eventually. But I'll do it." He sighed in defeat.

"Good! I have a match right about… now. I'll see you later at lunch, bye!" She waved before turning and disappearing in a bright yellow light.

"Geez. That princess will never change." Belen smiled before returning to his original objective, helping himself to a generous helping of spaghetti and meatballs and walking away whistling happily.

Unknowingly to him, LeBlanc did not have a match, nor did she teleport away. She materialised behind the marble pillar and smirked to herself. 'Get ready Belen, because shit is going down.'

He made his way towards the Ionians with a skip in his step, greeting all the champions acknowledging him as they passed, they were more of a family to him.

After making a turn to the left to the his table, all of a sudden, his heart stopped. Miss Sarah Fortune herself strutted towards his direction, curvy and full hips swaying with every step. Her crimson tresses perfectly coiffed and her luscious lips matching her hair.

It was as if the world stood still for a second and he had slipped into an infatuated trance.

'She is so majestic.

She is so beautiful.

She is so hot.

She is so perfect.'

As much as he tried to deny, it was plain as daylight to everyone that flirtatious bounty hunter has ensnared the golden heart that belongs to the summoner that everybody loves, especially much to the dismay of some of the female champions. He just couldn't help himself, he was smitten with her the minute he had laid eyes upon her. She was drop-dead gorgeous and she knew that too, flaunting her shapely hips and her generous cleavage.

She was so commanding in the way that she talks, so haughty and arrogant like she knew that everybody would bow down before her and submit to her unquestioningly. He was mesmerised by the way she carries herself, with such regality and grace of a swan. She is just so elegant and charming that she had drawn in many other admirers like him or just plain perverts just wanting to get into her tight leather leggings.

And it was true too, she often had other summoners around fawning over her all the time and he would somehow find himself standing from afar, eyeing at them jealously as she would lightheartedly flirt back and tease them.

It would always be his regret that he had never tried.

All of a sudden, it suddenly struck him like a ton of a bricks that there was no way that he could avoid her now. He paled and began to sweat profusely.

LeBlanc watched amused as her best friend walked towards Miss Fortune like an idiot, shuffling and almost tripping over his own feet. It was then when an idea had presented itself on a golden platter to her.

If he doesn't want to talk to her voluntarily, she was sure that she is going to push him over to the other side and burn the damn bridges.

Now all she had to do was to sit back and wait for the opportune moment.

As he inched towards Miss Fortune, every footstep sounded like an echo of thunder, his heart thumping and rivulets of sweat dribbled down his temple. He awkwardly walked towards her, his stiff movements almost seemed inhuman.

He was nearly in front of her now, her half-lidded green eyes seductively boring into his bright blue ones, trapping him like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Hello Belen." She purred sultrily.

Before he could even respond, his fate has already been put into play.

LeBlanc felt for the mana flowing her veins and channeled it to her palms, flinging her ethereal chains at Belen, the invisible chains quickly wrapping themselves around his ankles. With all the strength that she could muster, she tugged hard, and hoped for the best.

Time seemed to freeze at that very moment with Ekko and Zilean later on swearing they had nothing to do with it. He suddenly felt his legs not responding to him and his face contorted in horror as he hurtled forward.

'NO NO NO NO!'

His plate of spaghetti and Karma's cup of tea were torn from his grasp and flew towards the object of his affections. He collided into her with Sarah shrieking in unadulterated shock as the both of them tumbled on to the marble floor of the Grand Hall.

Vayne smirked under her shades.

Karthus cackled in cacophony.

Irelia facepalmed.

Sona daintily placed her fingers on her mouth in surprise.

Yasuo let out a low whistle.

In the light and the multitude of mixed reactions from the champions. It was clear to all who were present: "It was at this moment when everyone knew... that Belen fucked up".