Kindness repaid (pt 1.)
Johnny is an ignorant young farm boy, which allows me to explain lore for areas and people in Runeterria through conversations.
A kindness repaid
As Johnny approached the the door of the Noble House of Laurent he only had one thing on his mind, he had to pay back the kindness of the woman who had saved him. Johnny had been carting his crops to a small village on the outskirts of the Demacian empire when he was suddenly attacked by some vicious raptors that were indigenous to the area. Cart overturned ,broken and with his crops strewn about Johnny was left bleeding in the middle of the road, he would have surely died a slow death if left to his fate but luck seemed to be shining down on him. According to the healers that had tended to him, Johnny had been rescued by the head of the Noble House of Laurent who happened to be passing by. Johnny knew nothing about this woman and was determined to pay back this act of kindness in someway, Johnny slammed his calloused fist into the front door and a resounding knock echoed in the air, slowly the door opened and a man with sleek brown hair answered the door.
“Can I help you sir?” The man asked.
“Howdy, my name is Johnny Greenfield, I was saved the other day by the head of your house and I was hoping that I could personally thank her for saving me. Johnny heard whispering behind the door that seemed to be coming from somebody else but he couldn't make out the words.
“I'm sorry sir, but Madam Laurent is very busy and is unable to see visitors at the moment, I can relay your message to her however.” The man replied, his face seemed full of regret.
“Well that won't work at all,” Johnny said, scratching his chin. “When will she have time? It won't take me too long to say thank you.” Johnny heard more whispering followed by the man abruptly responding.
“She is busy good bye!” and slamming the door shut.
Any normal person would have just walked away after this exchange, but Johnny patiently stood outside for several hours, twiddling his thumbs and humming to himself. Dawn broke, and soon after the sun was high in the sky. Johnny was dozing off when he suddenly heard the door unlatch and swing open, before he could open his eyes he felt someone run into him and let out a gasp.
“Who are you? What are you doing here in front of my house?” Asked a woman's voice.
Before Johnny stood a woman with jaw-length black hair that had pink accents in the front, she had piercing blue eyes and a sharp stare that seemed to cut through Johnny.
“Howdy ma'am, my name is Johnny Greenfield, and am I correct in assuming that you are the head of this household?” There wasn't an intimidate response from the woman as her gaze continued to pierce through Johnny's body.
“Yes I am Fiora Laurent, and I am the head of my house. But I don't know you and I still don't have an answer as to why you are here.” She said in a very brisk voice, she spoke with some kind of accent that Johnny hadn't ever heard before.
“Well, ma'am I was told that you brought me into the infirmary. You saved my life, and I wanted to thank you.”
“Is that so?” Fiora curtly responded, “well you were in the middle of the road and in my way. I could care less if I saved you or not, that wasn't my intention.”
“Well you still ended up doing so, I would like to pay you back for your kindness.”
“I have no need for money.”
“I don't have money to give you ma'am.”
“Than what did you have in mind?” Fiora asked narrowing her eyes
“Well, I've heard talk around town that there is some kind of festival happening at the end of the week and I was wondering if you would be so kind as to allow me to take you around the festival.”
“No” Fiora responded, briskly walking back into her house, “Now if you don't leave I will send out my hounds to remove you.” and she slammed the door. There sound of the door slamming had not yet dissipated when Johnny heard a sharp whistle pierce the air, followed by the sound of angry barking and snarling. 2 large dogs were charging at him, fangs bared and jaws snapping, he closed his eyes and held out his hands, bracing for impact.
Fiora heard the sounds of her hounds attacking that strange boy, by the time the next day had dawned, she woke up well rested and had completely forgotten about him. Fiora went through her normal routine and was just stepping outside when she was greeted by the sight of Johnny giving one of her hounds a belly rub while the other laid at his feet dozing in the sun. Johnny was covered in cuts and bite marks, he was bleeding quite heavily and one of his eyes had been swollen shut, his brown hair was sticking to his forehead and his massive frame was kneeling down asking the fearsome hound that he was petting “Who's a good boy?”
“What do you think you are doing!” Fiora shouted, Johnny jolted upright and the two hounds ran off to frolic in the sun.
“Howdy!” Johnny said cheerfully, “Those two sure like to play rough, but they settled down after a while.” Fiora was shocked, she stood there, mouth gaping and eyes wide. She was at a total loss for words. Why did he not run? How had he tamed her hounds? Why wasn't he dead? Why was he so cheerful despite being injured?
“So have you changed your mind about going to the festival with me?” Johnny's words snapped Fiora back into reality.
“I have the feeling that you won't leave me alone unless I do.” Fiora sighed, Go to the forest just outside of the city walls tomorrow morning, I have a test for you. If you fail then you leave and I never see or hear from you again.”
“What if I pass?” Johnny asked.
“If you pass than I'll go to that festival with you.” Fiora said with a smirk that didn't sit right with Johnny.
“Alrighty Miss Fiora, I'll hold you to that. See you tomorrow” Johnny said over his shoulder as he walked into town, he was beat and needed rest before whatever test he needed to do tomorrow.
The moon looked amazing in the sky as Johnny laid out in a clearing that he had found in the forest, Johnny briefly wondered what tomorrow would have in store for him before sleep overtook him.