Legends of a Fallen King: Zara [Chapter 4: Yearn to Learn]
Following the strange blue man as we crossed into another dimension, I could not help but wonder who he may be. In any case, he is the only lead I have for understanding this predicament. My head starts pounding as I come to realize, I've transformed. I am no longer the man I once was, but what does it matter if I cannot remember? If only I could remember.
The man, named "Ryze," threw his satchel into the unknown plane which fizzled out of existence and at the very next moment, the blistering winds bombards us relentlessly. Just when I was getting used to the warmth of the bogs, I now have chills coursing through my soul. Suddenly, Ryze hands me back my crown. As I don my broken crown, I can feel the chills dissipating until the air no longer feels windy. Ryze gives me a strange look and then continues forward to what seems like an out-of-place library.
Escaping from the cold blizzard and entering with the rune wizard, I fathom the architecture of the vast library. From the outside, it did not seem like much. However entering inside, the whole mountain, the library was enclosed in, was the library itself. Shelves expanding all around the cavern and rising as high as the peak. The regal beauty reminded me of home, wherever that is.
"Zara," Ryze calls out to me, "Let's go, let's go!" I rush over to see Ryze, surveying a large scroll that he laid onto the table. It contained elaborate constellations, painted stories, branching paths, cogent equations, etc. The formatting of these scrolls give fond memories of lessons about mana.
Many constellations were strewn across the floor, but a couple constellations were laid bare on his study on large parchment pages. It contained the common stars of the night sky. I knew, because these were the very first ones he pointed out to me. There was the pylon shaped constellation that represented the architect who watches over the pillars of the world. One I know very well is the halo of the starstruck sun, which represents the perseverance of fallen stars. It showed that even in death, the dust that remained would rise to create galaxies. Then there were... stricken constellations?
Actually, they were crossed out and surrounded by numerous calculations. A triangular constellation was scribbled too hard for me to recognize, but I could catch a glimpse of the trident shaped constellation that he never quite explained to me before getting snatched up by Ryze. It's quite strange to think that the stars would play such a large role in our personal lives.
As if aligned to our favor, we were blessed by the stars and given what seems like an endless supply of the magic that we call mana. Though the study being based on runes, glyphs, and pictographs makes this quite cryptic. It's quite surreal how these things can tap into such magnificent power. Although many aspects of mana are grounded in natural law, I still can't wrap my head around how mana is a material force rather than fuel. Before I can wrap my head around it, Ryze returned to the study with a new piece of parchment.
It seemed to have a hand drawn figure on it. Actually, it looks like a constellation of... "Is that my crown?"
Examining me and then the scroll Ryze arrived at a conclusion, "I knew it." Ryze's gaze fixated on a constellation of a broken crown, warped by a mysterious mist.
Looking back at me he asked, "For further confirmation, can you tell me the name of your sword?"
"My sword?"
"Yes, your blade." Ryze probed.
"Well, I'm a king."
"Right, I could guess from the crown."
"My crown has a crack in it."
"That's right."
"So it's ruined."
"Yes, we established that already."
"So that means this blade-"
"Come on already!"
"Is the 
Blade of the Ruined King."
A deafening silence cuts between the two of us.
"You're joking right?" Ryze asks to break the silence.
"Of course I am!"
Ryze shakes his head in a display of extreme irritation.
"The point I'm trying to make is that this is no magical sword." I explain in an attempt to ease his frustration. "It's simply one of the many ornate swords from my kingdom. Outside of looking fancy, which it does not even accomplish anymore, it is just a brutish weapon."
"Well, even so. There is more than enough proof with the crown itself." Ryze proclaims, "This crown has a World Rune."
"What in the world is that?"
"It is a very dangerous artifact." Ryze explains. "This has cataclysmic power that has the potential to reshape, no, destroy all of Runeterra."
"WOAH! Are you sure this crown can do all of that?"
"I'm positive." Ryze reassures me with the grave front he is showing me. "I've seen its power before."
"Well, you can keep your apocalyptic-"
"However," Ryze interrupts me as I began removing my crown. "I fear that it may come at a great sacrifice to you."
Downtrodden by the might of the crown, I release my hand and ask Ryze, "What do you mean by that?"
"There seems to be a significant connection between you and the World Rune." Ryze explains as he studies the scroll. "Normally, ghouls become insane after their revival. Which is why I have been very cautious on our first encounter."
"Oh, I apologize for that."
"No need for apologies, you were not insane so that is a good thing," Ryze assures me. "However, that is exactly what is peculiar. You should have gone insane, but it is as if the World Rune is protecting your sanity."
"What is so strange about that? If the World Rune is protecting me, it would obviously protect my judgement."
"That's what YOU think..." Ryze mutters as he closes his eyes, as if he was reminiscing on disappointing events. "What actually happens is a corrupt hunger for power overwhelms the user. It causes the most sane minds to plummet into insanity. I was thinking your wild strength came from the combination of the World Rune and being a ghoul, but you could carry that fish of yours perfectly fine without the crown." He states as he points at the huge shark I have been nibbling on throughout the whole conversation.
"Yeah, I guess you could blame it on a primal instinct."
"What do you mean 'primal instinct'?" Ryze asks to probe for more information.
"Well, I was alive when I should have been dead. So, I knew I needed to live. It's as simple as that." I answer Ryze while gazing into the dead fish's eye. "Even I couldn't believe my strength. It was as if my will to live became power on its own."
"That's a ghoul's might alright." Ryze nods his head in self-confirmation. "Unfortunately, I have no experience with dealing with ghouls like you."
"So, you want my crow-"
"YES!" Ryze exclaims abruptly. "I mean, yes, that would be very helpful."
I cannot even reply. My head is pounding with a furious force. The total lack of respect over my belongings, well he did ask first, but now he wants my stuff? My crown of all things? The gall, the impudence-
No way. Did he say what I think he did? You knew I would go crazy, become an insensible monster with this monstrous power of mine. Oh, oh no. Oh, he wants me dead? No. No, he does. Yes. You want me dead. I- no, I don't understand. Why? Wait.
They want to kill me before I become insane? Oh my. No. No! NO! I cannot die. No. Not here. Not now. I cannot, I will not, I am not dying. No, I am dead, how can I die? Did I die? How? Why? Where? I do not understand. Can't wait, must act, must...
Eviscerate the enemy. They want me dead? I'll have their head. No, their heart--their will. Grasp their will in my hand and crush it. Then they will fall. Heartless, bathed in the blood wrought by their own hands. The blood within their own hands. Gouge out the eyes that belittle me. Disembowel those who spat at my feet. Scald those who wish me burn. Then do it all over again. Do it for you? Do it for me? Do it for him? Do it for her.
Her?
Opening my eyes, clouded by the black mist that shrouds this cavern. I bear witness to the ruins of the ancient temple. The temple of knowledge, the library. I gaze up at the crumbling shelves and tumbling books from on high. The flickering flames that illuminated this place have long burned out. The lone light comes from above me. I look up, and it still comes from above me. No, my crown? Yes, my crown. This broken, old thing. A bead of water streams down my cheek as I realize how broken this crown truly is. It is ruined, just like I ruined this place.
"Ryze," I call out, into the darkness. "I know you can hear me."
I call out once more, but there is no response. Only the fluttering of pages as they fall from the ceiling. In response, I toss my crown into the strewn pieces of literature along the ground.
"If you want my crown, take it," I holler out into the darkness. "I am no longer a king. I do not even remember the name of the kingdom I ruled any longer."
With a deep breath, "However, before you claim my crown. You must kill me." I request from Ryze. "The stars and scrolls themselves state that my life would end in ruin. There is no peace for me here."
Coughing hoarsely, I lose my balance and fall to the ground. My hands, chest, no, my entire body is erupting into a black mist. I can clearly see my limbs crumbling before me. I guess this is how it ends. What a pitiful ending, uneventful and melodramatic, although it is an end fit for someone such as myself: The Ruined King.
I close my eyes and await the eternal slumber that befalls me. However, it does not arrive. Rather, I did not arrive. As I slowly peek at what is going on and notice that the mist has ceased its expulsion, the crumbling as well.
"Was my will to die not strong enough?"
"No." A voice from behind states. "My will for you to live is too strong."
I turn my head and see Ryze as he lets go of the crown that is now on my head.
"Don't toss that around carelessly. It may cause another explosion." Ryze scoffs at the scene I made. "I must say though, your selflessness is admirable. Everyone I've dealt with so far has given into the power of the World Runes."
"Well, you were right," I stated in reply. "The World Rune definitely does not help with sanity."
"However, you could read the scrolls," Ryze rebutted as he set up some runes. "The scrolls have always saved me from the influence of the runes, so it's no surprise you were saved too."
"It's the one of the reasons I changed my mind."
"Wait, what do you mean Ryze?" I ask in astonishment.
"Well, this place here," Ryze states while directing attention to the entire cavern, "Is a very powerful place for someone like me."
"So this was a trap?"
"Yes, but then I realized I could not take you on no matter how hard I tried," Ryze states in a disappointed manner. "The simple nature of my ability prevents me from doing so."
"The nature?"
"Yes, the World Rune." Ryze replies while pointing at my crown. "It protects you with a veil that can nullify all the magic I utilize. Watch." Ryze throws an arcane bolt at me. I flinch as it approaches me, but then it abruptly dissipates.
"As you can see, this is the main reason why I changed my mind." Ryze bluntly states as he continues to work on the runes. "So, why did you change your mind?"
"What do you mean change my mind? Letting this crown go was my original intention," I asked out of confusion.
"Well, it must have been a struggle fighting against both the instincts of a ghoul and the desire of the World Rune simultaneously."
Thinking about it again, it truly was difficult. I normally would have fallen easily into the desires of the World Rune, but-
"I did not come back to life on a conquest for power. I am sure of that. I know how dangerous messing around with power can be." I gaze at the destroyed architecture of the library. "Ah, the magnificence of this shelter from cold air. Something I would expect out of my kingdom."
Downtrodden, I take a deep breath and continue, "Sullied, by the force I possess. I have ruined the one place that feels like home. However, that is not the worst part." I state as Ryze props his head up in curiosity.
"The worst part is, I think I have done this before."
"What did you do?" Ryze asks out of curiosity as he finishes the runes.
"I don't know."
"Well, you'll find out soon enough," Ryze concludes. "Come. The runes beckon."
I step into the rune warp without hesitation. I do not know where it goes, but going anywhere is better this mess of a place.
Thanks for reading, again. If you haven't noticed, this is merely a revision of the previous chapter, Runic Affinity. This was a suggestion inspired by GreenMoriyama, a moderator of custom champions on the League of Legends Wikia who handles quality control on an epic scale.
This is the new chapter 4 for Zara, The Cryptic King, a custom champion I made to represent my vision of The Ruined King. I added some more elements of how mana works and what Zara has learned in the past as he lets his mind wander in the Mountain Library.
For those who are stellar with science, energy is known to transform through interactions with forces. However, forces themselves are not energy at all. They are merely accelerants that allow energy to act at all. The great mystery of mana is that it is a force with matter.
It's essentially impossible to have a force without matter, but the force itself is never characterized as matter. This parallels with strong nuclear force in reality which essentially shapes what matter is. Mana is the manifestation of control over strong nuclear force. The capability of mana depends on the ability of the beholder. I'll leave the rest of the details to the imagination. I can't spoil this topic.
As always, thanks for sticking around for these minor details. I hope these changes allow the chapters to be a bit easier to follow. Unfortunately, I cannot update the names of these chapters, so we'll just have to follow along with the table of contents below. For those who haven't read this chapter yet, I hope to see you in the next one: Forged from Sand and Runes. [slayer-pantheon-popcorn]
Arc 1: Our King Returns
- A Distant Memory
- Conquering the Abyss
- Runic Affinity
- Yearn to Learn
- Forged from Sand and Runes
- The Blue Sea
- Pain and Pride
- Lost Homelands
Arc 2: Method to the Madness 9. Dawn upon Zaun 10. Good Morning Ghost 11. Knight of the Full Noon 12. Madness of Man