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[LoL] Runeterra: Son of the Masks

Author: SaturnnN

Chapter 1: 1 — Protect

My eyes slowly opened as I tried to turn off the alarm on my phone. I raised my arm and reached for the nightstand next to my bed where it should be. Strangely, my body felt numb and atrophied, as if I hadn't moved it in a long time. The noise around me was getting louder as I regained consciousness. It was strange; it felt like voices but much more muffled and distorted. Do I have something blocking my ears?

I swung my arm in the air in a futile attempt to reach my phone. It was as if the nightstand had somehow disappeared. Strange... I was sure I hadn't moved anything in my room. Wait, why am I lying down? I was supposed to have fallen asleep on the desk while studying for the final exams this semester. My hand feels different, chubbier... It's strange, I feel weak somehow.

I finally decided to open my eyes. Even though I wanted with all my being to keep sleeping, this situation was unsettling me. Besides, there shouldn't be any voices in my room, and I'm sure I didn't leave the computer on playing a video.

His eyes, at a slow but steady pace, began to gain clarity. His blurry surroundings faded away, giving way to a much clearer view. Although his hearing was still poor in quality, it was enough for him. Before him stretched a vast dirt road, rugged and crowded with people traveling on it. Giant people who could easily surpass his size three or four times. A sight that terrified him. His first instinct was to scream, but instead of his voice, he heard a baby crying and wailing. Confused, he tried to cover his mouth to stop the wailing, but instead of his hands, there were now small, chubby masses that could hardly be called true hands. He was sure that with these things, he could barely hold a glass for more than a few seconds before it fell.

—"Oh! You're finally awake, sleepyhead "— he heard a melodious and calm, yet childish voice beside him. He turned his neck with effort to try to discern who it was coming from, and although it took him a bit, he finally managed. There was a girl with beautiful cerulean blue eyes and a vibrant light blue, a peculiar combination at the very least. He was sure that something like that would be impossible where he came from. Does she have contact lenses or something? Besides, she looked very dirty; her cheek had specks of dust and dirt. Her hair, originally a vibrant pink, looked much duller and disheveled, as well as dirty and greasy, a sign that it had been a long time since she had a good cleaning. Under her eyes were small dark bags, showing her irregular sleep. Her image, which should be that of a little girl with a pretty and tender face, was replaced by a dirty face, greatly diminishing her cuteness and giving an unpleasant image at first glance. Her age seemed to be around five or six years old, and her hair was short and semi-wavy. She was looking at him with a beautiful smile that contained great affection, confusing him.

— (Who is this girl? Why is everyone so big?) — He was still disoriented, suddenly appearing in a place like this and having fleeting memories of strange events that he was sure he hadn't experienced.

The girl said nothing more after that, giving him a playful squeeze on his nose. Keeping a soft smile on her face, she looked around at the different people passing by, ignoring them. It seemed that he was in her arms, while a white cloth tied around her neck and arm seemed to hold him to ease his weight a bit.

— (Where... where am I? Am I dreaming? Who is this girl?) —

His thoughts ended as he saw someone approaching them. It seemed to be an old man due to his gray hair and wrinkled skin. He wore somewhat ragged and faded clothes, with a thin black hooded cloak over his head to protect him from the heat. He carried a large basket on his back with what looked like many roots and plant stems that he couldn't recognize. Maybe sugar canes? He didn't know; botany wasn't his strong suit, honestly.

The old man stood in front of them and searched his pocket, throwing some gold-colored coins into a metal jar in front of the girl holding him in her arms, causing a dull sound. Without saying another word, he continued on his way. His expression showed nothing but neutrality, as if seeing a girl this age was a common sight for him. This confused him even more. His mind slowly began to piece together the puzzle of this situation. Not only his body, his hands, and his voice, but also this girl, these streets, and the appearance of these people, along with no signs of technology. His mind was fully waking up. He came out of the initial stupor and processed the whole situation.

—"T-Thank you! "— His voice came out in a high but timid tone. It doesn't seem like speaking is her strong suit. The old man simply raised his arm and waved goodbye without saying anything else. He was quite cold, which caused the girl's smile to diminish.

— (The heat, the people, the wind, my body... everything feels too real. This can't be a dream, so... am I in another world? Or in the past?) —

They were very daring and illogical thoughts, but everything pointed to that. He was a baby now, and he was in the arms of this girl, in a place without technology and with people using rustic tools. Clearly, he wasn't where he lived. So many stories he had read in the past led him to this conclusion, but... why? There was no talk with an unknown and omnipotent god or anything like that. He felt cheated! Where were his three free wishes for being a good person? He wanted to cry; medieval worlds were cruel, and without some kind of advantage, he would probably be devoured by some beast at some point, or not even that, he could directly be killed by some madman who decided today was a bad day for him to exist.

—"How awful... At this rate, I won't be able to buy you food... What is your dear older sister supposed to do, little Kingsley? Enlighten me "— she would start rubbing her cheeks with his while sighing in discouragement at what she had just said.

The girl would take the metal container on the floor, seeing how there were only a few pairs of coins inside, barely enough to feed them both. It was a problem; she didn't know what to do. At this rate, she was sure they would starve to death if she didn't find a way to get a steady income. Her small body didn't allow her to do anything, and she was physically weaker than the children her age. This feeling of helplessness was not something a little girl of this age should feel. After a quick glance at the container, she would sigh again. She hoped it would fill up a little more soon. She was running out of ideas on what to do to get money. Her inexperienced mind in this field couldn't think of anything to survive other than having faith that generous people would give some of their money so they could put something in their mouths.

The now-named Kingsley would look around, still feeling fearful of the situation, trying to recognize where he was. Even if he was in the past, if he managed to recognize the location and time, he could do something, or at least that until he saw how both he and the small figure of the girl holding him in her arms were overshadowed by a giant shadow, while a powerful snort was heard. Before them, a colossal beast would walk by, with each step causing the ground to vibrate slightly, demonstrating the monstrous weight and strength it had. It had thick greenish skin that reflected the sunlight, with patterns similar to scales. It looked tough enough to withstand sword cuts, arrow shots, or gunshots and remain practically intact. On its back were extensions similar to fins, although they were overshadowed by the many straps that tied its body, with a sort of bridle on its head, down to straps running its entire length, ending in that powerful tail. The fins were also present behind its legs. Tying the straps seemed to be carts attached behind it, filled with all sorts of food, herbs, and fruits. In total, there were three huge carts filled to the brim. On the sides of this beast were soldiers armed to the teeth with dark iron who continuously shouted at it and whipped it with spiked whips. Although the monster seemed unaffected, it showed clear displeasure and irritation at the pricks caused by the spikes, shaking its head occasionally, causing its horns to graze tents and people alike.

The people who had previously been hastily walking on the dirt streets were now cornered into alleyways and pressed against walls to avoid getting in the way of the beast of burden. Many shopkeepers were now holding onto the poles supporting the canopies covering their products from the sun, as the beast's careless movements easily sent some stalls flying along with their goods. This caused some daring individuals to approach the beast, which had fresh food near it, in an attempt to get some for free.

—"They're bringing a Basilisk down the main road again. Lately, the soldiers have no consideration for anyone else. Do they think this is their home? "— The words came from the side, spoken by a man of about thirty years, who watched the scene with crossed arms and an annoyed expression.

The soldiers, who appeared to come from the central cities, looked down on everyone with contempt and arrogance, showing no consideration for the people, pushing those who got in their way. This scene continued for several minutes as the Basilisk slowly advanced until it finally disappeared at a crossroad, leaving the previously lively and bustling market in a deathly silence filled with whispered complaints.

Although everyone hated this, no one dared to speak out loud in front of those soldiers, knowing what would happen once they were heard. Honestly, no one there felt like being carried lifeless on a cart to be burned in one of the many pyres used to dispose of corpses.

While all this was happening, fruits, vegetables, dried meats, and other items were falling to the ground. A good-quality orange rolled near the barefooted feet of the girl, who was watching and listening attentively. Although she was still somewhat confused due to her innocence, she understood what was happening. It wasn't the first time Noxian soldiers had caused a disaster in this small town. Whether they were messing with people, beating them, harassing them, robbing them, or simply walking beasts of burden down narrow, busy streets, she had seen it many times. Thanks to her small size, she didn't have to worry about them, as she usually went unnoticed. However, it was never pleasant to see an old man's face disfigured for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Her eyes focused on the citrus fruit with interest. The temptation of seeing that shiny, vibrant orange skin was hard to resist. More food was scattered nearby, but she was afraid—afraid of being discovered and having something bad happen not only to her but also to her little brother, who now resided in her arms. She hadn't eaten anything in two days due to the hard times. There weren't many foreigners passing through the town; it was mostly residents or soldiers, who had not an ounce of mercy. They couldn't afford to worry about another life when they were already struggling to maintain their own. This meant that the coins given were minimal, often forcing her to resort to theft to go to bed with something in her stomach.

Looking around, she noticed that most people were distracted, talking among themselves, shopkeepers picking up their things, and people grabbing items off the ground, causing fights and arguments. It was a chaotic situation, so she took the risk, trusting her height to help her escape if anything happened. She quickly grabbed the orange and hid it in the cloth holding little Kingsley, along with other items from the ground like bread and vegetables. She held the metal container with coins and stood up, walking quickly out of sight of the road, into an alley behind it. Her walk lasted a few minutes before she finally stopped. After several winding alleys and streets, she felt safe and looked at the loot she had stolen, which lay beside and on the small baby. They were light objects, so they wouldn't bother him much.

—"Look at this, I feel like I can see myself in the reflection of this orange "— she exclaimed with some amazement and adoration, holding the orange and seeing how shiny it was, demonstrating its quality.

Meanwhile, the baby in her arms looked at this, confused, watching as the girl talked to herself with an orange.

[POV: Kingsley]

What a problem... I was hoping for something much more peaceful, but it seems that luck is not on my side today. I just saw a fantasy monster pass in front of me, destroying everything in its path. Is that legal? Police? Where are they when you need them? Fortunately, those lashing tail whips didn't come near us. Otherwise, I'm sure both he and this girl would have ended up as an unpleasant meat paste. My vision was blocked, watching as I was suddenly buried in food and then feeling us move at a fast pace. The walk lasted a few minutes, during which I could hear the girl's breathing getting more labored. Does she have some respiratory problem? I'm sure we didn't walk far enough to tire her out like that.

My vision cleared once a sort of orange was removed from my face, only this one seemed much larger than a normal orange. Is all the food here this huge? This place confused me more and more; everything seemed giant, not just the animals but also the food. The girl was looking at the orange with great fascination. Does she like them? I wasn't sure what to think. I was suddenly thrown into this mini-prison, but why? Everything felt blurry before this; I couldn't clearly remember what I was doing before waking up here, just falling asleep at the study table where I was...

— (I still don't recognize this place. Where have I ended up? It's certainly not pleasant, but I have no clue where it could be... Ahh)— He sighed briefly, watching his now self-proclaimed sister calmly peel the orange.

So, I lost everything by coming here... Damn it, I worked hard to buy that PC, and I barely got to enjoy it! At least I would have spent the last night browsing the internet if something like this was going to happen. Though I guess it's not like I'm leaving much behind; there's no one there waiting for me, ha!

— (Thinking like that is pretty sad) —

I couldn't continue those thoughts because suddenly a loud, shrill voice was heard behind the girl holding me, whose name I still don't know. Would having one of those Isekai systems be ideal right now? I'd love to have a skill like "Observe" to see things like that. Now that I think about it, I haven't tried to see if I have a system since I was too stunned by the situation. It would be incredible if that were the case!

—"Well, look at what we have here "— the voice came with several footsteps and childish laughs following the main voice.

A group of four children emerged from a corner, all around the age of the pink-haired girl, about six or seven years old, accompanied by mocking laughter and proud looks towards the little one who couldn't bring herself to continue peeling the orange, leaving it half-peeled with part of the flesh exposed and the other not. Her expression quickly shifted from relief to terror, trying to quickly hide the orange behind a box. Her arm was quickly grabbed with force, causing her to cry out in pain and drop the fruit.

—"Wow! You've got a good haul there. Hey, how about this? Share a bit with us, and we'll be generous~ I promise! "— The boy, with pale skin and brown hair, said this with a mocking smile on his face, looking at the terrified expression of the girl. —"Come on Elowen~ You know we're friends, right? "—

— (Have kids always been this way?) — He thought with difficulty due to his position, managing to see the boy's smug grin, a disgusting look that for some reason would make anyone who saw it want to punch him straight in the nose.

—"Hey, Sirius, hurry up! We want to go see the soldiers before they leave! "—

—"Yes! I heard from my father that they won't be here for long. If we want to talk to them, we need to hurry. "—

—"You can play with her another day, just leave it already! "—

Several voices from the children behind were heard, showing their fascination with the soldiers, wanting to leave quickly before it was too late. But Sirius ignored them, approaching the girl named Elowen to quickly throw his arm around her neck in a "friendly" hug.

Without saying a word, while his body trembled slightly, he reached into the cloth to pull out a loaf of bread. It wasn't very long, but compared to the size of a child, it was decent. However, it seemed to not satisfy Sirius, as his grip around the girl's neck tightened, using more force and causing pain in the process.

—"Come on, you know we deserve more. Didn't we let you stay near my uncle's shop? Don't you think you're being selfish? "— His voice came out in a fake annoyed tone, while his smile widened as he saw the girl hurriedly reach into the cloth again and pull out much more food, leaving a couple of fruits and some dried meat inside the cloth.

—"See? I knew you could do it. You have to give to receive, right? "— He removed his arm from the girl's neck and took the bread, taking a bite. His face immediately contorted, spitting out the bread and throwing the loaf into a puddle along with everything Elowen had offered.

—"Damn, it's stale! "— He looked at the girl, who hadn't spoken a word until now, then gave her a hard slap across the face. The girl didn't try to dodge it, as her body froze the moment she saw his arm raise.

The slap caused the little girl to spin and fall on her knees, turning her back to the aggressor. Using her arm, she prevented Kingsley from hitting the ground, but unfortunately, everything she had gathered fell to the floor and rolled away from her.

—"Are you trying to kill me? "—

He walked towards the girl with his face twisted in anger. His steps were clearly threatening, his fists clenched, and he spat on the ground, removing the remnants of the bread from his mouth. He quickly lifted his leg and brought it down onto Elowen's back.

—"Here we go again "— one of the children ran a hand through his hair as he watched the first kick fall.

—"Come on, let's go before it gets worse. I don't want to hear him scream. "— Turning around, he began walking away from the scene, hoping Sirius would finish quickly.

The last child said nothing and followed them, internally hoping Sirius would show some mercy to little Elowen.

A dull thud echoed in the alley, as what seemed to be heavy breathing gradually calmed. There, a boy, a girl, and a baby were present. The boy delivered another kick directly to Elowen's ribs, making her let out a groan but not a scream. She looked battered, with bruises not only on her face but also on her arms and legs. Her torso would also show purple and bruised skin, but even so, she didn't change position, remaining on her hands and knees. If her hand gave way, she used her head to support herself, but above all, she kept the baby in her arms from being exposed: a small baby who hadn't made a sound throughout this ordeal.

Finally, with a sweaty and disheveled forehead, she would pass a hand over her hair, fixing it before looking down at the girl who continued to tremble on the ground, protecting the baby with her body.

—"What a nuisance. I hope you understand after this. If you offer me anything stale again, I'll kill you "— Squatting beside her, he would hold her hair to lift her face and force her to look at him. —"Do you understand? "—

The words were spoken with an extremely cold tone, a tone that shouldn't be used by a seven-year-old. Elowen looked him in the eyes without saying anything; the gaze lasted only a short time before she closed her eyes, unable to endure another second of the terrifying look her aggressor was giving her. Taking this as a positive response, the boy released her hair. Due to the little strength left in her neck, her head fell abruptly onto the concrete of the alley.

Getting up from his previous position, Sirius placed one hand in his pants pocket. Walking to the alley's exit without looking at the ground, he ended up stepping on the orange that Elowen had been peeling earlier, specifically the exposed half, making a squelching sound and releasing all its juice. Without stopping to look, he walked out of the alley casually, accompanied by a whistle.

After a few minutes, Elowen would struggle to get up from her position. Her whole body ached, and she felt like she might faint at any moment, but she didn't let that stop her. She reached for the orange on the ground, the closest to her since all the other food she had gathered was too far out of reach.

She looked at the ruined, dirty, and juice-less half for a moment before taking a bite, tearing the whole half apart in the process. As she chewed, her vision blurred and hurt, tears streamed down her cheeks, slowly carrying the dirt that had accompanied her. Sitting on her knees, she looked at the baby in her arms. The tears continued to flow, stronger with each bite of the remaining orange. Finally, with a forced smile on her face, she looked at Kingsley before bringing the good half to his mouth.

—"Eat, Kingsley, so you can grow up healthy and strong. That's what Mom always said..." — As she gently placed a slice of orange into the baby's mouth, which had made no sound until now.

Seeing the tear-filled face of the girl protecting him with her body, Kingsley felt his thoughts freeze. His eyes widened as he felt drops of water falling on his face. The girl's tears reached his cheek, tracing all the way down his face, finally falling to the ground beneath him, which seemed to act as a kind of switch. The girl would pull the baby's body closer to hers, hugging him with the little strength she had left and letting out a sea of tears with silent cries.

Kingsley's mind was blank. This was a new sight for him, and his brain didn't know how to process it, so it went into automatic mode, causing him to bite into the slice of orange in his mouth, feeling how the flesh broke easily against his undeveloped teeth. Inside him, the image of this small, fragile girl protecting him while enduring a beating, without screaming, without crying, just bearing it all until it was over, triggered one of the most primal instincts of humanity: the protection of family at all costs, even if he didn't know her and had only been in this world for a few hours. Instantly, his brain recognized the girl, named Elowen, as part of his family, and with this came a new goal...

The absolute protection of his new sister.