"...A part of Xerath knows he is still in chains."

So I really enjoyed these back-stories for Azir and Xerath. I really feel like the amount of depth given to the character of both of them is really doing justice to what these characters could be and deserve to be. To me, Xerath's mindset was one of the best aspects of the stories. The sheer amount of power within that line at the end of his story is kind of mind-boggling. Xerath has always known enslavement and what it feels like, and he tried so hard to find freedom in whatever way he could. That's what drove him to betrayal. When he thought Azir wasn't planning to free the slaves and had turned his back on him, Xerath decided he wanted the power. But then, Azir did it. Azir freed Xerath and the slaves. With everything Xerath had ever wanted given to him, it wasn't enough. Freedom from physical enslavement wasn't enough. Xerath betrayed Azir and took his power, but spent a milennia imprisoned for it. Even when he was freed from that prison, it still wasn't enough. He feels compelled to finish Azir to find peace. He's now a slave to his lust for power and is bound forever to it.

Probably the saddest part is how Xerath fought with himself just before he betrayed Azir. He cried as he turned Azir to ash, showing that he still help fondness for his long-time friend. Whatever sense of companionship and love he had for Azir was still there in that moment, but he has long since abandoned it now. Now Xerath is enslaved to his lust for power and feels only a desire for more. It seems like his efforts for freedom only tightened his own shackles.

Overall, well done with these back stories. I'm looking foreward to Rammus's. Hopefully we will actually learn something.

Also, is it just me or is the "being of eternal fire" sounding like a link to Brand? Just a possible cameo that Riot is infamous for.