"So many bad dreams...." Lillia, The Bashful Bloom
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As the group ran toward the temple, Xin Zhao couldn't help but ask, "Master Kennen?"
Kennen glanced at him from up on the tree tops.
"I have seen both of you seek to preserve the secrets of the Kinkou Order, as is your duty. But I am not one of you....." Xin continued, "Still.... I need to know. What kind of enemy can reach inside my mind and make me see my worst fears? Speak.... or I shall bid my farewells and continue my travels on my own."
"What did you see Xin Zhao of Raikkon?"
"I saw a vision." He continued, "One of my.... home.. in ruins."
"Your home?" Kennen asked, a smile forming under his mask.
Xin nodded as he too understood the meaning of his own words, "Demacia."
"What did you see?" Kennen asked.
"Demacia in ruins." Xin replied, "Caused by beings known as Darkin."
Kennen stopped running and spun around, his face completely serious. Yunara froze as she too halted.
"Darkin? You know of them?" Kennen asked.
Xin Zhao nodded.
"Monsters that tempt those with unbelievable power. There are stories of Winged Protectors of Demacia had defeating one. And until a few years ago, one of the noble families were tasked with keeping one of them from falling into the wrong hands." Xin Zhao answered, electing to keep Gregori out of the conversation until more information was revealed to him.
Kennen nodded sagely, "Stories often have truth to them. Sometimes.... they are the only things that help us make sense of the world around us. They also reveal truths that history has carefully hidden." Pointing to Yunara, he continued, "Yunara is no exception to this. Ionia remembers her own story after all."
"The Tale of the Shrine Maiden." Xin Zhao replied.
Yunara frowned at this revelation, surprised that she was not forgotten.
"You know the tale Xin Zhao. Now hear the story behind it." Kennen began, "Fifteen centuries ago... The Darkin, having amassed a large following, set Ionia into a long period of war. Why they had come? No one knew."
"The False Kanmei War..." Xin Zhao muttered, recognizing the stories his mother had told him as a child.
Kennen nodded, "The truth was carefully hidden in order to appease our people and the spirits. The Darkin claimed themselves to be Kanmei. Spirits of power. This led to them being worshipped. Followers came to them. They slaughtered many. Our people were in pain and suffering. We prayed to our spirits for help. But even with their aid it proved difficult to hold them off."
"That's when he appeared." Yunara broke her silence, "Zaahen. A Darkin who stood against his own kind. His corruption hadn't consumed him, he claimed that inside, he was still an Ascended. He routed an entire army on his lonesome. With him, he brought knowledge from Shurima on how we could seal the Darkin away.... into their own weapons. He swung his glaive beating back those who were fully corrupted and killed those who hadn't yet been fully corrupted. His own people. His family. But he was willing to do it however many times as it took."
Yunara sighed, "He proposed an alliance. The Eye of Twilight.... Grand Master Binan. She accepted. But without having complete belief in his words, I was made to follow him. Not as Yunara but as the Fist of Shadow. I was to end him if his words were false. But as you might have figured out..... His promise was kept. He sealed the Darkin away and killed those who weren't yet immortals. But in the last moment... he too succumbed to the corruption and completed him transformation into a Darkin. At his own request... we sealed him into his own weapon, his glaive."
"But that was not all." Kennen spoke.
Yunara shook her head, "No. With his knowledge of not only the methods to seal the Darkin but also where in Ionia, the other Darkin were sealed. For this reason... he was sealed within the Temple of Twilight, which could only be accessed by the Eye of Twilight."
"Then how-"
"Then how was I sealed with him?" Yunara cut him off, "With the temple being cast into the Spirit Realm, we had come to the conclusion that he needed a guard. One strong enough to deter and stop any who had evil desires."
"You."
She nodded, "Me."
"But the appearance of the Azakana demons and the rift brought the temple out of the Spirit Realm. I left my post to eliminate the demons and now we need to head back." She explained.
Acknowledging her words, Xin Zhao followed them to the temple.
"Tell me Master Kennen.. why let the truths of history be hidden and shrouded by myth?" Xin couldn't help but ask.
"The Kinkou needed to help the people recover from the long days of struggle. Better to let them remember a wholesome fable than the harsh truth."
"But someone DOES know the truth Kennen." Yunara spoke, "Someone sent the Azakana. They mean to free Zaahen. We cannot let this happen." She turned to Xin Zhao, "You must leave. This is not your fight. Go back home. Warn the people of Demacia that the Darkin have returned."
Xin Zhao let out a chuckle, confusing the two.
"Demacia knows of the return of the Darkin already." Xin Zhao revealed, "I, myself, have seen the vast amounts of devastation they can bring. We had out own incident a few years ago. This Darkin threat is a global one. If my presence can prevent the rise of one.... then I shall gladly step in."
Kennen frowned, "You survived the appearance of a Darkin?"
"I was lucky enough to not face it.... but like your story with Zaahen.... we too had an ally who stepped in to stop the Darkin. And in response to the attack, Demacia has created Petriciteconstructs that can defeat them." Xin Zhao answered. "And if all else fails..... the Winged Protectors will respond."
"They weren't a story I take it." Yunara pointed out.
"It was a surprise to my King when he was told of their continued presence in Demacia."
"Then we would appreciate your presence Xin Zhao." Kennen relented.
Xin Zhao smiled, "I will do everything in my power to keep this Zaahen sealed away. But I will do so in service of Demacia and my king."
Kennen chuckled as Yunara frowned, "That is good enough. Come. Let us be as swift as the wind."
As they arrived at the foot of the mountain where the temple was, they found a Vastayan sitting against a tree. He was covered in fur with the bottom half of his face covered.
"Master Kennen!" The Vastaya shot to his feet, "It is good that you are here. Is the Eye of Twilight with you?"
"Master Shen is far away, held up with a matter of great importance." Kennen answered, "Neither he nor Mayyim would be able to make it here in quickly."
Yunara scoffed, "Great importance?! What matters more than this?"
"We can discuss this later. Right now our minds must be on the temple." Kennen pacified Yunara.
The Vastaya stepped in, "Master! That is the problem. The hidden temple was here but now it is gone again! Drawn back into the Spirit Realm."
"Without the Eye of Twilight...." He continued.
"We cannot enter." Kennen finished, but then stopped, "No we can still enter."
"The trials." Yunara commented.
Kennen nodded, "The Trials of Twilight. Completing it allows you entry into the temple."
"Then let us attempt this trial." Xin Zhao spoke confidently.
Kennen shook his head, "No. We need to be prepared." He pointed to Xin Zhao, "And you need your spear fixed."
"This cannot be fixed." Xin Zhao replied.
"Can't it?" Kennen asked, "How can the man give up before the weapon?"
"Where is the Woodweaver?" Yunara asked the Vastaya.
"The groves behind the mountain. He will be tending to the young trees as he always does."
"Then that is our destination."